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The stock market cooled this week, and the Dow/Gold ratio stayed steady at 12.75; the silver/gold ratio was basically steady at 62.7. What we're seeing this week is almost certainly technical backfilling combined with some profit-taking, as precious metals traders await the latest statements from the Federal Open Market Committee, with investors expecting the minutes to shed some light on when the Fed plans to raise interest rates.
Gold has stomped on bearish forecasts this month, as money managers increased their net long positions for the fourth straight week. Holdings in Exchange Traded Funds are increasing at the fastest pace since 2012.
If oil prices explode, the stock market will collapse and gold prices will surge, as investors flee to safe harbor investments.
Fighting in Iraq has largely fallen out of the headlines, as government forces finally shaped themselves into something resembling an effective defensive force and managed to push the rebels out of some areas. So far oil prices are near where they were last year, but that could change quickly if the militants are successful in attacking the southern oil fields. If oil prices explode, the stock market will collapse and gold prices will surge, as investors flee to safe harbor investments.
If the situation in Iraq wasn't bad enough, a new round of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians flared up, with a new round of rocket attacks on Israel. The Israelis responded by calling up their reserve forces, launching counter-battery strikes, and preparing for a more aggressive and direct military response. It's still early in the summer, leaving plenty of time for more fireworks in other parts of the Middle East.
Balancing out the positive pressure on gold prices, the economy is still showing surprising strength — and the economic news has been mostly good. Consumer confidence picked up, and the employment numbers were over all positive. The stock market, while overheated and expensive, is still the best investment game in town. If the inevitable market correction is a soft one, we could see the bears regain some short-term control in gold prices.
Even though it's in recovery mode, the economy is still fragile at these valuations, and the potential upside still favors gold and silver. One lucky rocket attack by the militants in Iraq, and we could see gasoline prices spike and the stock market collapse. A collapse of the market would certainly trigger another round of layoffs, although I doubt we'd see the same trouble in the credit markets we experienced in 2008. I don't think we'd see a return to the 2008 style recession, but the market could see a significant and long-term correction.
If you've been putting off rebalancing your stock portfolio and catching up on the percentage of wealth you keep in hard assets, this is a good time to make those moves. Those who have watched their IRA balances recover may want to consider a defensive shifting of some of your retirement assets to a gold and silver IRA. The stock market is expensive, while gold and silver prices are still a relative bargain. If you've been thinking about shifting some of your assets, now is the time to get it done.


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What are tuition management services?
From students applying for financial aid to parents making sense of a college bill, tuition can be a complicated process. That's why tuition management services can be invaluable to just about any kind of business.
You may be wondering, though, what "tuition management services" really means. Just as there are several ways to define "tuition," there are multiple scenarios that illustrate tuition management services based on your stakeholders' needs. We break down three definitions:
Billing management
Most literally, tuition management services can apply to college and university billing management systems for students and parents. The term especially applies to financial aid offices, since students are regularly billed for classes, dorm rooms and other fees throughout the academic year.
The reams of paperwork related to college bills can make for stressful circumstances. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators conducted research on financial aid letters and found that, no matter the aid letter type, each one left students and parents feeling overwhelmed and confused by the information presented. This fact, combined with a college's need to manage potentially tens of thousands of students' information, means that a system to organize tuition payments is a business imperative.
Some schools will create their own tuition management system; others will outsource to companies like TMS, which offers services like an online payment portal and automated payment reminders. And since Internet technology is ubiquitous on college campuses, many colleges and universities are transitioning over to online-only communications.
Scholarship programs
Another way to interpret tuition management services is in managing a scholarship program, from application review to award disbursement.
If you're seeking a way to enable students to attend college, creating a scholarship program can fit the bill. These programs range from individuals wanting to set up a memorial scholarship in a loved one's name to a corporation creating a scholarship program for applicants nationwide.
Because scholarships are such a valuable way for students to pay for college, they can play a large role in influencing what tuition will look like once a student receives a financial aid letter. A scholarship program goes hand-in-hand with billing management: Knowing how and when to disburse awards to a student is crucial.
Consequently, while some groups manage scholarship programs in-house, many also contract out to save time and to work with experienced professionals. An organization like Scholarship America's Scholarship Management Services is the nation's largest administrator, working with over 1,200 corporations, individuals and foundations.
Employee education
Last but not least, tuition management services can be interpreted from a human resources perspective: An employer can offer a tuition assistance program or tuition reduction program.
A tuition assistance program is apt for businesses, organizations and institutions to develop their workforce. Offering an educational or tuition assistance program in the workplace invests in both the employee's skills and the employer's goals to have an experienced organization. (Check out this earlier post on our blog for more reasons why educational programs are beneficial to employers and employees.)
Educational benefits can extend beyond an employee, too, to include a spouse or a dependent child. In a tuition reduction program, a benefit-eligible employee — or their spouse or dependent — could take courses at a reduced tuition. Offering such a program allows an employee to be engaged by attending classes at community college, college or university, while also learning new techniques to apply to work.
Considering the diversity of "tuition management services," clarifying its meaning to you and your audience will allow you to deliver top-notch services. And, by offering tuition management services, you'll not only help your business, but create even more value for the individuals that will benefit from them.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hot Media Trends for June 13, 2016
- Global retail e-commerce sales made up 7.4% of the total retail market worldwide in 2015 or $1.67 trillion. By 2019, that will jump to $3.58 trillion and will account for 12.8% of retail purchases, this according to a new report from eMarketer released in conjunction with the IRCE event in Chicago currently taking place. eMarketer projects annual retail growth of about 3.3% in North America through 2019, while growth in Western Europe will remain relatively flat at around 1.0% annually through the end of the forecast. Asia-Pacific remains the largest regional retail market in the world. (Read More on Response Magazine)
- The Association of National Advertisers released findings of an extensive probe into the "transparency," or lack thereof, of agency media-buying practices and said it found the practice of kickbacks or non-transparent media rebates to agencies to be "pervasive." The findings, which are the result of an eight-month study conducted by K2 Intelligence, found "evidence of a fundamental disconnect in the advertising industry regarding the basic nature of the advertiser-agency relationship" and called for full "disclosure" of the media-buying process. The ANA study implied evidence of potentially criminal activities. While it did not utilize that language specifically, it said the findings revealed "potentially problematic agency conduct concealed by principal transactions; as a principal, an agency (or its holding company or associated company) purchases media on its own behalf and later resells it to a client after a markup." (Read More on MediaPost)
- AT&T and the Chernin Group to launch subscription video bundle, countering Amazon. Variety has learned that the duo is getting ready to unveil a new video subscription bundle targeting viewers interested in anime, video games, niche action sports and other fare. The new platform is being developed by San Francisco-based Ellation, which is part of the Otter Media joint venture that AT&T and Chernin formed in 2014. One of Ellation's key assets has been Crunchyroll, an anime video subscription service that has at least 800,000 paying subscribers. (Read More on Variety)
- Americans are spending more time than ever using media, but that amount of time is beginning to level off. The average consumer spends approximately 12 hours per day consuming media, up nearly an hour from 2011 levels, according to a new report from eMarketer. However, over the next two years, that number is set to increase by only three minutes. Among individual categories of media, television ranks as the most-used with an average 4 hours and 5 minutes per day in 2016, although that is expected to slip to 3 hours and 55 minutes by 2018. Mobile ranks second with an average 3 hours and 6 minutes in 2016, followed by desktop computers at 2 hours and 11 minutes. Broadcast radio (excluding digital) ranked fourth, accounting for 1 hour and 27 minutes of daily media consumption. Radio usage has been consistent since 2012, hitting between 1 hour and 32 minutes and 1 hour and 27 minutes, and daily radio listening is expected to remain flat through 2018, when it will be 1 hour and 25 minutes, the report says. (Read More on InsideRadio)
- Pandora is overhauling its ads to create a more dynamic experience for some 80 million monthly users—blending images and sound, and integrating native video into its mobile experience. The streaming-music service is introducing responsive mobile display ads that automatically adjust to a phone's screen size and that live in the square space housing album art. The new formats let users swipe to dismiss ads, and while Pandora wouldn't disclose the entire list of brands included in the pilot phase, officials said it saw twice the number of listeners engage within an advertiser's landing page. Pandora runs around 18,000 campaigns during a month and targets 1,000 different audience segments. A beta test for the new formats will launch in August with nearly a dozen brands, including clothing line Express and Lexus. (Read More on ADWEEK)
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For as many years as I can remember, my one constant was believing that one day, after I retired from the rat race, I would spend my days sitting on my porch, listening to the wind songs and staring contentedly at the mountains. I even used this scenario in the groups I facilitated, designating this dream as my (for lack of a better term) "happy place."
I finally retired. Now, as I sit on my back porch, somewhere in the mountains in New Hampshire, I am still in awe and wonderment that I ever made it. The quiet peacefulness is beyond awesome, the sounds of nature; inspiring and the view….
There are somethings that I should have realized when moving into the mountains. Things like chinking the log cabin, prepping the gardens for winter, putting up several cord of firewood to keep myself from freezing and putting in a good supply of food stuff…just in case I can't get into town. The Farmer's Almanac says it will be a bitter winter season with above average snow. Average here is about 100″. Enough to make things interesting. Bring it on….I am finally home…
"Every spirit builds itself a house; and beyond its house a world; and beyond its world, a heaven. Know then, that the world exists for you. For you is the phenomenon perfect. What we are, that only can we see. All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do. Adam called his house, heaven and earth; Caesar called his house, Rome; you perhaps call yours, a cobler's trade; a hundred acres of ploughed land; or a scholar's garret. Yet line for line and point for point, your dominion is as great as theirs, though without fine names. Build, therefore, your own world."


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David Lloyd Aberdeen Relax & Socialise
Wonderful views over the River Dee and enough space for everyone to enjoy
A room with a view
The DLicious cafebar has glorious views out over the River Dee and with its comfortable seating and a tasty, healthy menu to try, it's a great place to spend some time. We've split the cafebar into different zones to make sure that if you want to enjoy a quiet coffee, meet friends for lunch, or enjoy a meal with your family, then you have all the space you need.
Relax and Socialise at Aberdeen
With space for adults and children, our DLicious cafebar really is the heart of the club. Enjoy a coffee with the running club, catch up on some emails in our Business Hub, or let the kids loose on our new soft play climbing frame. Our DLicious menu uses high quality, fresh ingredients to give you a balanced choice of meals and snacks that really suits a healthy, active lifestyle. So whether you're here as a family, couple or individual, we really do have something for everyone.
- DLicious cafebar
- Dedicated family zone
- Adult's Only area
- Business Hub
- Toddler zone
- Saks hair and beauty salon
- Sports Rack Sports Shop
- Fit Co Sports Shop
- DLicious menu
- Children's menu
- Deli dishes
- Comedy nights
- Social events calendar
- Friendly team


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Google wants to be a big player in the smart grid, and has issued proposals and is testing software to help lower home energy consumption. The Mountain View, Calif., company believes one of the major roadblocks to lowered energy consumption is that consumers do not have access to their complete energy-use records. It wants to help give consumers more detailed information on their energy use than utilities companies provide in monthly billing statements. "Google's mission is to 'organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful,' and we believe consumers have a right to detailed information about their home electricity use," says Google's blog.
Google cites studies showing that more in-depth knowledge of their power consumption habits leads consumers to greatly reduce their electricity usage. For example, how many gamers know that their PS3 costs them up to $250 dollars a year in electricity, and uses five times more energy yearly than a refrigerator?
Such information is only leaked to consumers in fragments, and you have to look in the right places for it. Having it delivered monthly would no doubt help consumers realize how much some seemingly innocuous gadgets are costing them.
The results of even moderate energy reduction reported on Google's blog are pretty eye-opening, stating that if "half of America's households cut their energy demand by 10 percent, it would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road."
With Obama's stimulus package, 40 million homes will be equipped with smart meters, which will provide better consumption information to power companies, but Google wants to make the information available to consumers.
One way it aims to help consumers is with new software that is currently in private beta. Google Power Meter shows consumers their home power consumption in real-time.
Google will further outline its vision for the smart power grid with its February 17th conference "Plug into the Smart Grid," co-hosted by General Electric, in Washington D.C.


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August 14Meet Jossie Quintana support counselor
August 14Adminstrative lineup for 2019-2020
August 13Lindberg makes VYPE cover-yes it is a big deal
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Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1: Seagulls blow chance to win the title after Jack Grealish's late equaliser
Glenn Murray's penalty was not enough as last-minute leveller hands Championship to Newcastle
BRIGHTON suffered heartbreak as they blew the chance to win the Championship title by drawing at ten-man Aston Villa.
After taking the lead through Glenn Murray's penalty, Jack Grealish's last-minute equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for the hosts.
And that result, coupled with Newcastle's 3-0 victory over Barnsley, ensured that it was the Magpies who finished in top spot.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip ahead of the summer window with SunSport's daily LIVE blog
Chris Hughton's side knew that victory would secure them top spot, but they were fortunate to still be in the clash at half time.
They had goalkeeper David Stockdale to thank for stopping Henri Lansbury's effort after quarter of an hour.
Then moments later the midfielder should have fired Villa ahead after poor knock back from a defender, but he headed wide of the target from four yards.
As news filtered through of Newcastle taking the lead and overtaking them in top spot, Brighton were still unable to get on top as they continued to weather pressure from the hosts.
Steve Sidwell guided a shot just over the bar for the visitors with their only real attempt of the opening period.
After no doubt dishing out some strong words at the break, Hughton will have been delighted by the start his men made to the second period.
However, they were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Lewis Dunk appeared to foul Keinan Davis inside the area.
But after surviving that scare their big moment arrived when Nathan Baker was given his marching orders for fouling Sam Baldock in the penalty box.
Top scorer Murray held his nerve to fire home a right-footed spot-kick into the bottom right corner to send the travelling supporters from the south coast into ecstasy.
Buoyed by their goal and the numerical advantage, the champions-to-be swarmed forward in search of another.
Baldock, Solly March, Sidwell and Anthony Knockaert all came close to adding a second as they piled the pressure on - but their misses would prove crucial in the dying stages.
With just a minute of normal time remaining, Grealish was allowed to drift in from the left and hit a 25 yard that goalkeeper Stockdale allowed to go through his legs to level - costing Brighton top spot.


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Buffalo Grove's Ami Relf Receives National Award to Study in South AfricaDate Released: Fri, 19 April 2013 14:15 +0200
Ami E. Relf, an English teacher from Buffalo Grove High School, was recently selected as one of 25 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholars from a national applicant pool.
Relf will attend the University of Arkansas at Monticello's 2013 NEH-funded Summer Institute, "South Africa: Continuity and Change." The Institute will take place during five weeks (June 20–July 28), primarily in Cape Town, South Africa, but will also include study in Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Durban.
Summer Scholars will learn about the geography, history, culture, society, religion, education, economy and government of South Africa. The Institute faculty is certain that the participating teachers will set out on an intellectual adventure of discovery, learning, and field study in South Africa, which has the potential to transform their classroom activities when they teach about Africa.
In South Africa the institute will be affiliated with Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Professors at the university will deliver lectures to participants, who will also attend a variety of events at the National Arts Festival, the largest on the continent. They will also hear lectures from faculty members of the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town.
During this time, visits to historical and cultural sites in and around Cape Town will take place: the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, the KwaMuhle Museum in Durban, the Ezulwini Valley in Swaziland, the Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township in Johannesburg, the Voortrekker Monument and Museum in Pretoria, the Open Mine Museum and the "Big Hole" in Kimberly. For two weeks, participants will conduct a field study throughout the country, interacting with South Africans and visiting cities, savannas, mountains, lowlands, and coast.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello's 2013 NEH Summer Institute on "South Africa: Continuity and Change" is one of 22 seminars and institutes supported by the NEH, a federal agency that, each summer, supports these enrichment opportunities at colleges, universities, and cultural institutions so that teachers can study with experts in humanities disciplines.
The 25 Summer Scholars selected to participate in the program each receive a stipend of $3,900 to cover their travel, study, and living expenses.
The approximately 520 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these programs of study will teach almost 65,000 American students the following year. Although this is not the first NEH Institute for which Relf has been selected, it is her first Summer Scholars experience abroad. Relf is thrilled to embark on her summer of study in South Africa.
"Teaching World Literature offers me the opportunity to teach literature from authors from around the world," said Relf. "Currently, I teach three novels by African authors: A Long Way Gone, Purple Hibiscus, and Things Fall Apart. It is important to have representations of African literature in the World literature curriculum. This inclusion breaks down the stereotypes students have about Africa and African people."
"As I continue to teach African literature, be it a poem, short story or novel, I want to be able to give my students an "insiders" perspective," Relf explained. "Attending NEH's 'South Africa: Continuity and Change' will give me the opportunity to have a greater knowledge of the culture and literature.
The institute will allow me to integrate an 'insiders' perspective into the classroom, to increase my students' levels of engagement and provide my colleagues with materials and research to benefit the entire student body."
Caption: Ami Relf, BGHS teacher, has received a grant to study in South Africa
Sourced from District 214,Community Contributor


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I was with a group of friends last night and we discussed many things. Given that is is December, we also did a quick review of the year in our lives and our goals for 2014.
I was so encouraged by my friends – from the goals they achieved, to fears they overcame, to transforming life-threatening situations, to finding the best in themselves in the most unlikely circumstances. The best can be created exactly where you are.
At the same time, as paradoxical as this may sound, the best is also yet to come. The goals I heard last night were about career, love, health, family, finances, and world peace. The most inspiring part was not the goals themselves, but that each person believes that the locus of change starts in their hearts. Assuming responsibility, instead of blaming anyone, will take them far. I can't wait to hear all they accomplish in 2014.
I am taking the next couple of weeks to review, refine, and rejuvenate.
Thank you so much for being there and I look forward to 2014 with you.
Happy New Year,


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I'm trying to think back some eight months later on this race, so forgive me if the details are fuzzy and I don't remember things quite right.
I don't even remember how we got signed up for this, I think Libbie wanted to do a 5k and thought Corvallis would be fun since I went to school down there. Anyways, I never really thought I would do an actual race. I had run on my own, sure, but races were only for serious people (later found out that wasn't true, especially a 5k).
My training for this run included running to Hall and back from my apartment a couple of times (I believe that is something like 2.5 miles). I had been working out on the elliptical regularly for almost a year (due to my hatred of running) so my cardio was decent, but I hadn't really built up my "running muscles." I was fairly confident I could run the whole thing, it would suck, but I could run. I set a goal of under 30 minutes to complete the 5k.
I had heard of this run before when I was in school and part of Circle K. It is staged by the Kiwanis International, parent organization of Circle K, and I had always had the chance to volunteer. The only problem was the race started at 8am and back in school I was NOT going to get up at 8am even if I had a class then, let alone to volunteer.
Since we had to drive down to Corvallis I believe I woke up that Sunday morning at 5:45am or some other god awful hour. It was all a blur. I remember thinking we were crazy for doing this, but oh well. I had just been in Corvallis the day before for a football game (took my Little Brother, Brandon, from BBBS... they lost of course).
We parked (McNary lot) and then walked to the starting area. We picked up our bibs and shirts and I saw Harold, the Kiwanis member who would come hang out with Circle K. He was busy though and I didn't want to bother him (it was also 18 months since I last saw him and he was nearly blind, so I didn't want him to not recognize me and then have it be awkward).
So we started to walk back to the car to put our shirts away (they should always have an AFTER the race shirt pick up!) and we heard some announcement about starting in a few minutes. Turns out it was for the 10k, but we didn't realize, so we found a nice big bush in a nearby yard and tucked our shirts away. Quite genius actually.
Eventually we realized it was for the 10k, but our shirts were safe so we just hung out near the starting line. Stretched a little, scoped out the competition. Shortly after we lined up and it was our turn to go.
The gun started for my first ever race and I was off. It was crowded at the start (what race isn't?) so I took to weaving in and out and going on the sidewalk and whatnot. By the time we hit campus it had thinned and we were running on the road. I saw Jason, a fellow Circle Ker, and he recognized me and cheered me on. I had lost Libbie at the start so I was all alone.
I kept up a decent pace but when training I certainly wasn't running this fast. I was in "race" mode now and my body wasn't too happy. I was enjoying running through the OSU campus but at the same time, running was enough of a challenge I didn't really take it all in.
Most of the race is a blur, I remember just wanting it to be over but trying to keep my pace up. There was a mom and her son, who was about nine, pacing me. I couldn't let this middle aged mom and her little tiny son beat me, right? If they weren't there as motivation I probably would have dropped off a little.
Finally the finish line was in sight! I had skipped the water station a half mile back and passed mom/son but I could hear them on my tail. I shifted into a full on sprint for the last 300 yards or so, easily beating them and passing a few others along the way. Through the finish line I went, 28:30 something. I had beat my goal! I had finished a race!
Well, that was fun. I got my chip cut off my shoe, grabbed a water, then went to watch for Libbie. She surprised me by showing up at like 33 minutes or something, I believe her goal was under 40. I cheered her on and then we went to snack on some free bread and honey.
That's about it. We headed back shortly after, feeling very accomplished and proud. It seems so quint now looking back, but at the time it certainly was a huge achievement. It was the start of our running "careers" and will always be special because of that.
Official chip time: 28:01, 9:07/mile. 12/17 M2029, 122/370 overall.
Official chip time: 28:01, 9:07/mile. 12/17 M2029, 122/370 overall.
5k Course Map


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Food and Culture: Exploring the Origins and Meanings of Food (New Orleans)
Photos and Captions by Jamie Tiampo
Post-Katrina New Orleans is an American tragedy of epic proportions. NYU's Spring 2006 class led by Professor Amy Bentley offered a unique opportunity to tour the region and witness history. Our first day in New Orleans included a 'disaster tour,' an organized group event which reconstructed the events of the storm and the ensuing levee breach. While our bus tour was informative and certainly emotionally powerful, I felt disconnected from the city as it whizzed by.
Longing for a more personal view, I hired a taxi and revisited the Lower Ninth Ward. Never had I witnessed such destruction and power spread over such a large area. Standing in virtual solitude with my feet on the ground was the only way to completely appreciate the overwhelming force of the levee breach. I had the luxury of my own time, which allowed me to experience a much more personal relationship with the place where thousands once lived. Common objects hiding in the rubble became precious, and brought meaning to the lives of the displaced residents.
As a student of food and culture, I was most affected by the image of a spatula and spoon seemingly arranged by a former resident on a chimney deposited outside a front porch. The house which should have been in the background was swept off its foundation, leaving only the twisted handrail and the wreck of a school bus. I can only imagine the grief and anguish one felt when returning home to find only a concrete slab and a few kitchen utensils.
Jeanette Bell - Fleur D'Eden
2111 Baronne - New Orleans, LA 70113
One of the most inspiring people we met was Jeanette Bell, owner of the Fleur D'Eden Community Garden. She purchased a lot and built the garden on property in one of the poorest neighbourhoods within New Orleans, converting an abandoned land parcel in the ghetto to a 'rose lover's paradise.'
In so doing, she transformed the community and provided hope to residents. The garden contains hundreds of roses, culinary herbs, begonias, tropical plants, fruits, and vegetables.
"My love of flowers compelled me to search for a way of sharing the enjoyment with gardeners, former gardeners, and those who have never gardened. When I arrange a bouquet, my primary goal is to situate each flower so that it can be appreciated for its' contribution to the whole." – Jeanette Bell
LeJeune's Bakery - 1510 Main Street - Jeanerette, LA
Our adventures included several field trips across Louisiana, one of which was visiting LeJeune's bakery in Jeanerette, LA. LeJeune's is the oldest bakery in Louisiana, and the only bakery on the National Register of Historic Places (1884). Although no longer working, their original brick ovens are still installed, and much of the production equipment in use today remains unchanged.
Three generations of the LeJeune family kneaded bread and patiently supervised the rising of the loaves. The best time to visit Jeanerette is in the morning, when the bakery creates their signature French bread, garlic loaves, cinnamon bread and filled pies, infusing the entire town with the aroma of baked goods.
The Savvy Gourmet
4519 Magazine Street - New Orleans, LA
Any trip to Louisiana would not be complete without a crawfish boil. Affectionately known as 'mud bugs,' crawfish live in brackish swamps throughout the state. A Cajun man who wrestles alligators for recreation hauled a bag of wriggling crawfish for us to enjoy at "The Savvy Gourmet," a cooking school and store in New Orleans.
Our traditional crawfish boil involved half onions, garlic heads, corn on the cob, whole potatoes, alligator sausage, a commercial crab boil seasoning, and of course, crawfish. The cauldron of goodness was boiled for ten minutes, and rested for an additional 15 minutes to complete the cooking and develop the flavours. Everything was then emptied onto folding tables covered with butcher paper, and the whole mess was enjoyed with bare hands and beer. Rachel, one of the students, is attempting to reanimate the crawfish.
McIlhenny Company - Avery Island, LA
Ever wonder how Tabasco is made? The McIlhenny company grows Tabasco peppers in small tropical plantations around the world. At harvest, the peppers are ground into a mash with only salt as a preservative and packed into oak barrels. The oak barrels are sent back to Avery Island, LA, where they are aged in a gigantic warehouse. The mash is mixed with vinegar and blended for several days before it is bottled in a highly automated bottling plant. It is then packaged and shipped worldwide.
Tipatina's - 501 Napoleon Avenue - New Orleans, LA
We were lucky to enjoy the musical talents of the ReBirth Brass Band, an internationally renowned brass band formed in 1983. ReBirth maintains the traditions of brass bands while incorporating modern elements of funk and hip hop into their music. Philip Frazer, the tuba player, is the founder of the band and the fearless leader of the band.
"Nobody in ReBirth gets fired. They fire themselves." – Philip Frazer
I started out on this trip seriously questioning whether or not New Orleans should be rebuilt. This is a city which was built essentially underwater in the middle of a reclaimed estuary with no bedrock, in a known hurricane zone. Surely the deep water ports could be moved to lower risk cities. Surely the energy companies could relocate to less disaster-prone areas along the gulf. Surely the tourists could find another Pat O'Brians in which to drink yet another hurricane. But just as Las Vegas can't quite reproduce New York, Paris, or Venice, New Orleans can not be reconstituted anywhere else but New Orleans. Despite the sagging infrastructure, rampant poverty, and corrupt government, New Orleans is Home.
New Orleans must be rebuilt. Many parts should be restored as wetlands. The people of New Orleans deserve more than a $2500 WalMart gift card and a FEMA trailer. Most importantly, they deserve not to be forgotten.


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Hi Charlie, is your picture the wing of a butterfly
Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Sue, who won my recent blog competition. The prize was a signed CD by Englebert Humperdink and a signed Uri Gellar spoon.
I'm looking out for more unusual prizes for the future 🙂
Apparently, there's a big football tournament on at the moment? Had you noticed?! I'm not a huge fan of football – not terribly fussed, sorry! However, Wimbledon tennis is a tournament I can get excited about.
I've been fortunate to attend the tournament for a number of years now and I was lucky enough to be drawn from the ballot again this year.
If you get the chance to go I highly, highly recommend it.
As I mentioned in a recent blog, I love to play tennis. I'm also receiving some additional coaching to help raise my game. In the photo at the top is my racket – my pride and joy! Just seeing the picture makes me want to go and work on my serve or hit a ball against the wall!
I'll take my camera to Wimbledon and will share some of the pictures in the next few weeks with you.
Inside QVC
We're often asked what it's like to work at QVC. Not just 'on-air' but 'off-air' too. Well, we've been in our new premises for two years now and it has flown by. The facilities are fabulous, with a gorgeous lake on our door step which provides the perfect setting for a lunchtime picnic!
Dale and I share a dressing room. He wasn't in when I filmed this. If he were, I'd have been a lot tidier.
To be fair to us, we are immaculate compared to some of my colleagues! How Alison Young finds her way into her dressing room, let alone knows where everything is, is beyond me!
[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]
I've got some more lovely shows on the way for you to look out for; including Northern Nights on Monday 23rd June at midnight, featuring our gorgeous Today's Special Value Chantilly six-piece duvet set. On Tuesday 24th I'm back on air at 8pm with the delightful Michelle Hope, and then I've got a fabulous hour with more from Northern Nights at 10pm.
Hope you can join me!
In the meantime, it's back! Just for fun – guess the mystery picture!
Take care
Charlie x
P.S do join me on twitter @mecharliebrook – it's lots of fun!
4 Comments
June 21, 2014 at 9:30 pm -
June 21, 2014 at 10:06 pm -
Dear Charlie,
First time for me to write to you, but I always read all the blogs you all take the time to write for us all. Although it was short this time good as always. I thought I would have a go at your puzzle for the first time, I think its
Love lyn
The wings of a moth.
June 30, 2014 at 12:53 pm -
Well done Lorraine, correctly guessed!!
June 30, 2014 at 12:54 pm -
Hello Lyn and thanks for reading my blogs and getting in touch!
Well done, correctly guessed!


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This is our first installment in a new series of Volunteer & Rescue Spotlights! I had the pleasure of meeting Abbe earlier this year while she consulted for my employer. Now, here's what Abbe has to say:
My name is Abbe Diana. I live in New York City and work as a consultant for Ernst & Young. Outside of my busy career, I run Woof Dog Rescue with my rescue partner, Barbara Fox. We're a small group of friends and volunteers who love animals and can't stand by on the sidelines while wonderful dogs and cats are put to sleep in our city shelters for the sole reason that there is no place for them to go…
I got involved in rescue by volunteering for the ASPCA walking shelter dogs many years ago. I later volunteered at a smaller rescue organization where I met Barbara. We realized that we had similar goals and shared the same philosophy. I'm a Finance person by trade, and Barbara is a very successful real estate entrepreneur. We wanted to bring business-minded decision making to the emotional process of pet rescue. At Woof we pull the cats and dogs we believe will be the easiest to adopt out. While we applaud those people and groups who take on the tough cases, since we believe every animal deserves a chance, we can't justify taking on the difficult cases when so many highly adoptable pets aren't making it out of the shelter. While one tough case (i.e., a pet with a health or behavior issue) could take months or years to rehabilitate and place, we can rehome multiple healthy, sociable dogs and cats in that same time frame. This philosophy allows us to steadily churn out more rescues through our little network of friends and volunteers. We also believe we provide a service to our adopters. We are experienced at selecting shelter pets – we hand pick the "top dogs" (and cats!) from the awesome choices available at the shelter at any time. This is something most people don't want to do and probably wouldn't be very good at. In addition, our adopters meet our rescues in the low stress environment of a private foster home.
We're slow but steady. We only place a few animals a month. We provide tons of support to adopters to help make each adoption a success. Training tips, moral support, etc. We never take on more pets than we can handle, which allows us to really focus on finding the best families for our rescues.
I'm really proud of what we've accomplished with Woof Rescue. We recently reviewed our stats and realized we've placed close to 200 dogs and cats over the last few years. Woof Rescue proves that you can lead a busy life and still find the time to help animals. We don't have a building or any paid staff. All I really do is orchestrate a lot of activities by email and phone that I'm frequently not even physically present for. All it takes is an internet connection and some motivation!
It makes me CRAZY to know that there are so many animal lovers living in New York City yet so few help out with shelter pets. I honestly think most people don't really know how many great pets are being euthanized in our shelters. NYC rescue pets desperately need some good old fashioned PR (know anyone in PR?!)
Rescue pet misconceptions that I LOVE talking about:
- The only dogs and cats who are put to sleep are the sad, sick, (mess)ed up ones.
- WRONG!!! Most shelter animals are highly adoptable. The tough cases are actually the exception, not the rule. The only thing "wrong" with most shelter pets is that there is literally no place for them to go. Highly social, healthy pets are put down every day in shelters across the country. That means puppies and kittens too!!
- Don't donate, adopt from, or support "kill" shelters.
- OMG SO WRONG!! Every municipality has one organization which is charged with animal control for that community. In NYC the organization is Animal Care & Control (AC&C). AC&C is the only shelter in the city with an open door policy – in accordance with their contract with the city they must accept every pet that comes through their doors. This means that only one organization in NYC is forced to make the difficult choice to euthanize pets. All the other shelters and rescue groups in NYC only take in as many pets as they have room for. In fact, these organizations pull most of their rescues from AC&C. The city shelters are typically woefully underfunded and most in need of support from their communities! Don't forget about your city shelter!
- Pitbulls are dangerous.
- Where do I start…PEOPLE create dangerous dogs. If you neglect or abuse any dog you can create an aggressive animal. Granted, pitbulls were bred for a long time to be aggressive to other dogs for the evil purpose of creating a dog fighting champion. This is an unfortunate truth that advocates for the breed must acknowledge. I focus on placing dog-friendly pitbulls (and there are plenty!) because those are the types of pitties I'd most like to put back into the community. But the sordid dog-fighting history actually has a little known side effect. Fighting dogs were bred to be EXTRA friendly and non-aggressive to humans so that a human could step into the fighting ring and pull a highly agitated dog out of a frenzied fight and the dog would not turn their aggression onto the human. Fighting breeders created dogs with an exceptional lack of aggression towards humans. Interesting, right?
- Pitbulls are actually fantastic with children. Incredibly fantastic.
- Rescue work is so sad…I just couldn't do it!
- My rescue work is SO fun! I do all the happy stuff!! Imagine how it feels to march out of the shelter with an "at risk" dog at the end of the leash…its exhilarating!!! You're free my friend, you made it!!! I meet so many wonderful people who foster and adopt. And who doesn't love a good rags-to-riches story: neglected cat left behind in an apartment when his owners moved out now lives in a penthouse apartment in Manhattan sleeping on a satin pillow beside floor to ceiling windows…throwaway Momma dog brought into the shelter by police shaking like a leaf now spends weekends traveling in an RV with her new Dad…
- Cats don't adapt well to change
- I find that adult cats adapt better to foster homes than dogs. Dogs usually take at least a couple of days to unwind from the shelter experience and start acting normal in a foster home. A well adjusted cat often makes him or herself at home in about 2 minutes!!!
If you'd like to chat about getting involved with rescue or if you're interested in adopting a pet please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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|Quick Facts: Cost Estimators
$64,040 per year
$30.79 per hour
|Bachelor's degree
|Moderate-term on-the-job training
|11% (Faster than average)
What Cost Estimators Do
Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry.
Work Environment
Cost estimators work mostly in offices, and some estimators also visit construction sites and factory assembly lines. Most work full time.
How to Become a Cost Estimator
Most cost estimators need a bachelor's degree, although some workers with several years of experience in construction may qualify without a bachelor's degree.
The median annual wage for cost estimators was $64,040 in May 2018.
Job Outlook
Employment of cost estimators is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Overall job opportunities should be good because companies require accurate cost estimates in order to operate profitably.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for cost estimators.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of cost estimators with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about cost estimators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.


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Product Description
Celebrate your Alabama Crimson Tide fandom with this Car Flag! This flag is the perfect way of adding a little Crimson Tide spirit to your car whenever you're heading to the game. With Alabama graphics and colors, this weather resistant flag will allow you to show your Crimson Tide pride rain or shine.
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Clips onto car window
- Flag measures approximately 11″ x 14″
- Flag pole measures approximately 21″
- Foam pad to prevent damage to glass
- Weather resistant
- Officially licensed
- Made in the USA


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On May 19, 2009, A&M Records digitally re-released the Innocence Mission's self-titled debut album, which can be downloaded at commercial sites such as Amazon.com. The band's second full length album, Umbrella, remains out-of-print.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Debut album re-released
Posted by Keith at 12:42 PM Labels: albums
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This 13-Year-Old Inventor Has Cracked The Secret Of Trees To Revolutionize Solar Energy
Recently a 13-year-old boy may have just cracked the next step in the evolution of solar energy. His idea is based on the Fibonacci sequence.
It all started with trees…
After realizing that branches were frequently displayed in a spiral, and further, that spiral seemed to correspond to a pattern known as the Fibonacci sequence, then 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer began building test models to better understand the relationship.
What he found is something scientists have known for a long time – the Fibonacci sequence and it's ratio, known as the golden ratio, are repeated throughout nature. In the case of trees, it helps maximize sunlight exposure.
He found distinct patterns in oak, elm, and willow trees, as well as almond trees, and decided to test his hypothesis that it maximized sunlight exposure by making mini tree models replete with solar panels on their branches. If he was right – and he was! – the spiral designs would allow the solar panels to draw more power. In particular, he found the spiral patterns can collect, on average, 20 percent more open current voltage by absorbing 2 1/2 more hours of sunlight each day.
Of particular importance were his winter findings – when the sun was at its lowest point in the sky, the Fibonacci-based design collected up to 50 percent more sunlight than traditional flat panels.
Aidan explained:
My results suggest that the Fibonacci pattern can improve solar panel arrays in several ways. It collects more sunlight when the sun is at a low angle in the sky. This is useful during winter months and in extreme latitudes.
He mentioned other benefits of the spiral design, saying that it will take up less room in urban areas, where space is limited. He also believes that the design would not collect as much rain and snow and be more weather-resistant than rooftop flat panel designs.
If you enjoyed this article or learned something new, please don't forget to share it with others so they have a chance to enjoy this free information. This article is open source and free to reblog or use if you give a direct link back to the original article URL. Thanks for taking the time to support an open source initiative. We believe all information should be free and available to everyone. Have a good day and we hope to see you soon!


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Yesterday I went to the hotly anticipated (well in my world anyway) Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. Well worth the early morning, the delays and the £14 entrance fee it was like the best slice of retail heaven for a crafter. If a little overwhelming.
Look at this lovely knitted bunting. Knitters out there will understand just how many hours worth of knitting this represents!
If you've never been to this show and it's reasonably easy for you to get to you must make sure to put it in the diary for next year. There are 3 spaces - the main hall which is mainly comprised of retail stalls. There you'll find stands from almost all the crafting publications you can think of, usual sewing suspects like pfaff, brother, janome and singer. Fabric being sold by Ray Stitch, Fabrics Galore, Sunflower fabrics. There are stalls of books with a huge selection of crafting titles. Specialist supplies on sale for knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch, origami and the list goes on. It really is a complete treasure trove. Then the smaller rooms comprise exhibitions, textile artists and guilds/clubs mainly although there are also plenty of other shopping opportunities and Coats craft have an enormous display in one of those rooms. Frequently it felt like you'd been spun around, it was fairly easy to lose your bearings after trawling packed walkways of crafty women with a glazed (albeit content) demeanour.
Some stands were really beautifully staged. These bird cages and liberty bias binding were on the Selvedge stand.
Where there were also these gorgeous crochet scarves from Sophie Digard. Extraordinary colours and so detailed. Just amazing.
Another stand I really liked for its sheer bang of colour was the African Fabric Shop
Look at these beautiful colours. I bought myself a little pack, my only tangible bounty aside from ideas and inspiration that I bought back from the day alongside an issue of Cloth that Kate is in.
I'm going to try some patchwork with my fabric - I found this wall hanging quite inspirational:
As far as exhibits go (although a bit avant garde for my wardrobe) crochet fans take a look at this dress by Katie Jones who studied at Central St Martins:
Kate has some photos of 'scary' jumpers exhibited alongside this textile designer in her blog post on the day and you can also see a photo of me playing around on a knitting machine. That was one of the main intentions of my day, to learn about how they work and though I was sorely tempted I think I'll benefit from a bit more research.
I also made an exciting crochet discovery which I will share with you tomorrow. Crochet lovers - warning - you will be tempted.
I had a wonderful day though it was absolutely exhausting, a complete assault on the senses! It was made all the more brilliant in the company of both Florence and Kate. Having never met Florence before I can confirm she is really just as lovely as her blog suggests she might be. We headed to Covent Garden afterward to relax with wine and minimal food which leads me to think we may have peaked with our Saturday night a bit early and after an X Factor session with poorly George I've stayed at home today to recover. Gardening, films and crochet. It sounds wonderfully relaxing but with two snotty, irritating children it was pretty fractious. They were intent on bickering about everything and even now I am at 9pm wiping snot from my son while he hammers away at a keyboard. I don't know where he's got his second wind from after a listless whingey day but he's so hyperactive tonight!
Hope you've had a great weekend
Florence's post here
Kate's post here


text: Research from @mycom_official found that 45% of smart device (phone/tablet) users ages 13- to 18-year-olds in the US spend an average of 4+ hours a weekday using the mobile internet (28% avg. 5+ hours). ~50% of users ages 19- to 22-year-olds spent 4+ hours on the mobile internet each weekday. Furthermore, millennials spend an average of 114 minutes during the weekdays and 115 minutes on the weekends texting. The second most time consuming smart device activity for millennials was social media. @Annalect found that the leading ways in which brands should use digital media according to millennial smartphone users is to have mobile-friendly website, maintain some form of human interaction, and offer loyalty programs via mobile apps/ allow for mobile payments. - Link


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Tuesday, October 6, 2015
October 6 - Thomas, Apostle, Martyr, Doubter and Believer
It had all been too much for Thomas. He had been traveling with Jesus for nearly three years and then, suddenly, Jesus had been arrested, tried, and executed. Thomas had invested so much of his hope in Jesus. He had started following him because he talked about having the words of life and about a new Kingdom where things were different. Like many of his friends and family, Thomas dreamed of a world free from Roman rule and oppression. He saw his opportunity to follow after a man who had a plan and so he took it. He hadn't regretted it until recently. Jesus had always been provocative and unafraid of challenging the powers--Thomas like that--but he had gone too far. He had said too much and it had cost him his life.
Thomas could remember running away from the garden. They had been gathered there while Jesus prayed. Jesus had been talking strangely about going somewhere that his disciples could not go. Thomas was full of zeal for following after this man in whom he placed all of his hope for a better day and a better life. He wanted to go with him like had before when he had met the prospect of a dangerous journey with courage and exclaimed--perhaps, before he thought it out--'Come on! Let's go with him so that we might die with him!"Thomas was willing to risk much for the hope he now kindled within himself. Yet, he had run like the other disciples when his hope was seized by the powers, abused, tortured, and murdered. When Jesus breathed his last on that cross, Thomas' hope faded. The man whom he had trusted and followed had died like so many other leaders who dared to resist the powers of the world.Thomas settled back into a life of bleak--but safe--despair.
Then, he started hearing word from the others who had followed Jesus--"Jesus is alive!" He couldn't believe it. He had risked so much of himself to believe and trust Jesus that it hurt him even to think about doing it again. As long as Jesus was in the grave, Thomas didn't have to risk himself ever again. Yet, he kept hearing the joyful but distressing news. They said they had seen him. Thomas shook his head sadly and told them, "He died. They killed him. They won. They always do." He knew what happened to people who resisted the "way things are." They insisted he was wrong. Afraid to hope, Thomas said he'd only believe if he could see Jesus alive before him with the wounds they had laid on his body. For Thomas, it mattered that Jesus still bore the wounds of the powers--Thomas wanted the whole thing to be real and true. He figured his friends were still hanging on to hope and being deceived by acon-artist masquerading as their master. If he could put his hand on the wound, then Thomas felt that he might have room for real hope again. Even as he said it, he painfully hoped to be proved wrong but was confident that he wouldn't be. Never in his life had he hoped so much to be so absolutely fundamentally wrong.
Jesus came to them. Thomas was amazed. Jesus said to him, "Thomas, go ahead. Touch my wounds. Know that I have been killed but also know that I have beaten death." With tears in his eyes and hope swelling in his soul, he fell to his knees before the resurrection of hope and life and proclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" With these words, Thomas was converted. He suddenly knew what it was that Jesus had been doing. The change he had brought was more than a temporal change of circumstances--it was a fundamental change of reality. In the face of doubt, fear, domination, abuse, and death Jesus had proclaimed: Love wins.Hope wins. Peace wins. Forgiveness wins. Life wins.
Thomas was changed and given back his hope but now his hope rested not in a new world order but in a Kingdom not of this world. He went on to be a missionary for the Lord he so gladly professed. He would be martyred, eventually. It would seem that even after he had been arrested for healing and preaching that he continued to preach the hope that had changed his life. He proclaimed the death of death and the end of evil. For this, he was killed so that might not spread his hope among others. In his death, he only further proclaimed a loving God with a life changed by faith, hope, and love.
Posted by Joshua Hearne at 7:00 AM
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Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
I chose a basic (preppy, in fact) color palette today in an updated silhouette. Usually, I'd tuck my shirt in so that you can see my leg line, but this shirt curves upward on the sides (similar to a baseball tee) and therefore, you can clearly see the sides of my legs and the length of my body. In other words, it doesn't cut me off and make my legs look stumpy. This shirt was a no-brainer: I bought it last night at Target and, contrary to my shopping partner's opinion, horizontal stripes are NOT the enemy! In fact, when the fit is right, they can very well be our friend! The neckline also gives me length and the 3/4 length (tight) sleeves show that my arms and my body are smaller than the blousiness of the shirt fully shows. A pop of red lipstick and a crooked topknot are all I need to make it look like I just got out of bed like this. (I didn't.) Hope you have a great holiday!
Shirt: Target
Pants: similar
Boots: Frye
Necklace: Etsy


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Blues forward Roy back in lineupby Louie Korac
ST. LOUIS -- Forward Derek Roy will be back in the lineup for the St. Louis Blues when they play the Minnesota Wild at Scottrade Center on Thursday.
Roy, who missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury, will center a line with Brenden Morrow on the left and Steve Ott on the right.
The Blues (49-16-7) enter play Thursday one point ahead of the Boston Bruins in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.
"The line that we're playing together [Thursday] with Roy on it has played three times together before [Thursday], and all three games they've played really well together," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "It's three veteran guys that know how to read off each other. Obviously Ott takes a lot of the faceoffs and ends up down low in our zone.
"I want to see [the line] play consistently well before we evaluate whether we're going to stay with it or not. I'm not 100-percent sure yet. They've shown flashes where they play really well together and then for whatever reason, mostly through injuries or whatever, it's mostly gotten broken up or we've needed help somewhere else."
The Wild (37-25-11), who lost 5-2 at home to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, have won three times in the past 11 games (3-4-4) as they continue to hang onto one of two Western Conference wild-card spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It was a limited optional skate Thursday for Minnesota. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is slated to start against the Blues after he allowed three goals on 12 shots Wednesday. He was first off the ice following the morning skate. Kuemper is 1-4-2 in his past seven games after winning five straight starts.
The projected lineups for the Wild and the Blues:
Zach Parise - Mikael Granlund - Jason Pominville
Matt Moulson - Mikko Koivu - Charlie Coyle
Matt Cooke - Kyle Brodziak - Cody McCormick
Dany Heatley - Erik Haula - Nino Niederreiter
Marco Scandella - Jonathon Blum
Scratched: Mike Rupp, Justin Fontaine, Stephane Veilleux
Injured: Jason Zucker (quad), Keith Ballard (groin), Clayton Stoner (knee), Josh Harding (illness), Niklas Backstrom (abdomen)
Alexander Steen - David Backes - T.J. Oshie
Patrik Berglund - Vladimir Sobotka - Jaden Schwartz
Brenden Morrow - Derek Roy - Steve Ott
Magnus Paajarvi - Maxim Lapierre - Ryan Reaves
Jay Bouwmeester - Alex Pietrangelo
Carlo Colaiacovo - Kevin Shattenkirk
Scratched: Chris Porter, Dmitrij Jaskin, Jordan Leopold, Ian Cole
Injured: Vladimir Tarasenko (thumb)


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View previous adjunct grant awards here.
The Office of the Provost and Faculty Career Development created this grant program to provide funds for adjunct faculty to be used toward their professional development such as attending conferences, workshops, meetings or delivering presentations as a means to further their expertise in teaching at RIT.
Adjuncts at RIT may apply for up to $500 in funding, once per academic year. To be eligible for this funding you must have taught at RIT for at least two semesters and will be continuing as an adjunct instructor at RIT (to be verified by department head). Adjunct faculty who have not completed using funds or not submitted an outcome report for a prior year grant will not be eligible for a new grant-funded activity.
You must submit your application online along with a Verification Form from your department head/chair. Applications without a signed Verification Form will not be considered. Applications are due by Monday, November 4, 2019, 11:59 pm (midnight).
Application materials:
On the application you will provide:
Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee, and recipients will be notified in late November. If you are awarded a grant, you will receive instructions for accessing funds and reporting on the use of your grant.
We would like to share your experience and request that all grant recipients help disseminate their results by completing a brief report following the project's completion sharing the impact of this grant on your professional development, success in your discipline, teaching, etc.; your outcomes may be used on the FCDS website or other materials.
Questions should be directed to the Faculty Career Development team at email@example.com.


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All TCCS students, staff and parents are expected to display appropriate behavior both inside the school building and during outside activities organized by the school. As partners, we must be consistent in our efforts to create a positive school culture that will empower all TCCS students and families.
As an NYC public school, we also have to adhere to the Citywide Standards of Intervention and Discipline Measures. You will receive a copy of this document during the fall semester. Click here to access the code for grades K-5, and here for grades 6-8.
Student Recognition & Celebrations
Your child's birthday is an exciting day. Small classroom celebrations with snacks are permitted, provided you let your child's teacher know and schedule a time to celebrate a week in advance.
To avoid hurt feelings, please refrain from distributing birthday or party invitations at school unless the entire class is invited.
Please limit the classroom snack time celebration to small food items. Donuts, cupcakes, healthy snacks and juice boxes are acceptable.*
Celebrations will occur during 8th period from 2:30 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.


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You are cordially invited to attend, "Art with a Heart", a fine art and memorabilia auction hosted by the Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, MN. The event will be held at the winery located at 6693 CR 34 NW, on Friday, June 6th, 2014. The proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Lakes Area Humane Society.
This exceptional evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. with live music, hors d'oeuvres, wine, and a preview of art from both world renowned and local artists. The live auction will start at 8:00 p.m., presented by a professional art auctioneer who will provide an informative, engaging and entertaining evening for all.
The auction will include over 150 works of art from artists such as, Buckles, Kinkade, Steynozitz, Patricia, Neiman, Alvar, Disney and many more. In addition, there will be opportunities to purchase collectable sports memorabilia all presented beautifully matted and framed.
Tickets for the event are $20 in advance (by 6-5-14) and $25 at the door, however, they are limited so be sure to get yours now! All attendees who have purchased advanced tickets will be entered in a drawing to win a fabulous piece of art (must be present to win). Tickets are also available at the Lakes Area Humane Society and the Carlos Creek Winery.
Purchase tickets
For additional information, please contact the Lakes Area Humane Society at 320-759-2260 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Photography Classes in Harbinger NC
Are you looking to learn about photography in Harbinger NC? No matter if you are a hobbyist, professional, or beginner, the most effective way to improve your photography technique is through hands-on training with professional instructors.
There are numerous accredited photography schools in North Carolina. Photography classes cover subjects such as lighting techniques, digital capture, outdoor photography, exposure, composition, and many other basic and advanced camera techniques. Becoming an expert photographer can lead to a booming professional career or lifelong hobby.
There are numerous Photography Classes in Harbinger NC:
- Studio Photography Classes in Harbinger
- Photography 101 in Harbinger
- Digital Photography Classes in Harbinger
- Nature Photography Classes in Harbinger
- Editorial Photography Classes in Harbinger
Harbinger NC Photography Classes
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach
4500 Main St Ste 100
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Phone: (757) 493-6700
50.08 miles away
Thomas Nelson Community College
99 Thomas Nelson Drive
Hampton, Virginia 23666
Phone: (757) 825-2700
70.28 miles away
Carteret Community College
3505 Arendell St
Morehead City, North Carolina 28557-2989
Phone: (252) 222-6000
111.78 miles away
Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W Franklin St
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2512
Phone: (804) 828-0100
131.34 miles away
Living Arts College
3000 Wakefield Crossing Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27614-7076
Phone: (919) 488-8500
152.81 miles away


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I'm still on a hiatus from recapping, but being a drama addict means staying away from dramas would probably leave terribly lonely and lost. I'm watching a couple of Kdramas - Mandate of heaven and You're the best, Lee Soon Shim. MOH has the ingredients for a pretty good sageuk, which in my dictionary, just needs to be engaging. On the other hand, YTBLSS has a charming feel to it even if the storylines are cliches and nothing to shout about. Jo Jung Suk is adorable with a capital A here with IU and totally worth my adulation since he made me a fan in What's Up. For me, he's the biggest draw in the drama...and I would admit to FF through all the birth secrets stuff to skip the boring part.
Currently, my biggest guilty pleasure is actually c-drama Legend of Lu Zhen (also known as Female Prime Minister).
The story is about the titular heroine, Lu Zhen who hails from a wealthy pottery merchant family and doted by her loving father. She's well-versed with her father's business and possesses good pottery making skills leading to step mum feeling threatened and plots to get rid of her. She eventually escapes into the palace as a palace trainee to escape from her stepmother's clutches and vows to rise through the ranks to be in a position to avenge her father's death. Women are allowed limited freedom to assume various positions in the palace. In the interim she falls for the crown prince GaoZhan. Their social status disparity means the odds are stacked up against them being together, complicated by jealous sabotages from a bevy of beauties all enamored by the charismatic prince. There's an ex-first love, Siao HuanYun who married his brother the King, Gao Yan; a daughter of noble's birth who wants to marry him, Shen Jia Ning; Lu Zhen's nemesis Shen Bi. These three are major rivals for GaoZhan's attention and expect lots of schemings and betrayals. During all these, Lu Zhen is gradually acknowledged for her skills and talents and rises through the ranks after overcoming various obstacles. And then there is also the overarching plot of the Queen Mother plotting to kill GaoZhan so that the throne remains firmly in her son's (Gao Yan) grasp. Lu Zhen would eventually aid GaoXhan in overcoming a coup d'etat and since he could never make her his empress, she devoted her energies to politics to finally become the first female prime minister.
|Lu Zhen
|Shen Jia Ning
|Queen Mother Lou
|Gao Yan
|Siao Huan Yun
|Shen Bi
Chen Xiao (so very HAWT) and Zhao Liying (so very adorable but strong willed) has this epic chemistry that is at once sweet and fiery passion. Zhao's Lu zhen and Chen's Gao zhan owns my heart and soul so bad that I'm in a pretty bad shape...I marathoned 33 episodes right up to like 6am in the morning because I just.could.not.stop. When they are together I squee at their adorable selfs...and when they fight, I still felt like they ought to be jumping each other's skin. I went through the episodes thirsting for every little chance they would meet. The palace intrigue is much better done in c-dramas imho than in k-drama (what with the super obvious group meetings) and they keep things moving along just fine. Usually it's a bitch fight in there because so many of the ladies fall in love with GaoZhan (not that I blame them :P) but that also means Luzhen bears the brunt of their jealousies. She's a smart lass though and usually gets out of the mess just fine, though of course she had help, sometimes even from foes (others say the scheming is lacking is finesse compared to Zhen Huan Zhuan, which I didn't watch, but I find them alright).
I was never tempted to FF even though my dearies are not together on my screen, because when they do, it makes the wait all the more sweeter. And it helps that I actually like the other pairing and characters, evil or not, as well. I read some spoilers and know my heart would break (and more teeth gnashing), but this is the most addictive drama I've seen of late and I know I would stay to the bitter end. I doubt it's as exquisite as BBJX but like I said, I LOVE it. Any drama that could make me sacrifice my sleep big time is a major crack for me.
Check out the lovely opening song...


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2015 New device with 300,000 pulses
Permanent * Fast * Painless
The device uses the innovative the elōs technology, the Only Device in the market that is FDA cleared.
The Technology is used by dermatologists around the world, it is clinically proven to be effective on all range of hair colors, even on blond, dark blond and red hair and all skin types.
You can use the device on your arms, legs, underarms, bikini area, chest, back and stomach.
You can also use it for your facial areas such as: mustache/upper lip, sideburns, jawline and chin/neck.
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We offer an epilator and shaver accessories to create a dual action hair removal device.
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The fastest and safest way to achieve smooth and beautiful skin
STEP 1:Turn on the mē device
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Use your device once a week, on desired areas, for 7 treatments. This will eliminate at least 89% of your hair. You can continue treatments if hair is not removed or in order to stop any future hair from growing.
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What in the box?
mē system with one quartz cartridge containing 300,000 pulses
Facial Adaptor
Protective cap(already installed)
elōs protective cap
Power Cord
User Guide
Goggles for facial treatment
Cleaning Brush
We'll provide EU/US Outlet
Additional Accessories: (Sold separately)
Replacement elōs cartridgeshttps://iskinproducts.com/me-my-elos-super-touch-300k.html


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Pod People
Hello. Not posting here much as I'm working on a book (which I'm not ready to talk about), and between that and my Story Gamer and Shiny Shelf duties (see sidebar for latest), I've not really got much time for the blog. I'll post more when I have stuff actually coming out.
In the mean time, here's something new: Game People's first podcast.
It's our first attempt, chaired and edited by GP supremo Paul Govan, and for a pilot it turned out pretty well: a bit of background hiss, and there's no theme music yet (Rebecca?), but considering most of us hadn't spoken before this morning I think it went well.
I play the role of Speech Impeded Northern Git, and I think I made the part my own, although I probably gave away my lack of Zelda knowledge by doing two variations on the same joke about cutting grass. Ooops.
I won't be in all of these, but the next one is on Resident Evil, so really there would have to be something major come up in the next fortnight to stop me doing that one.
<poker face>
My adventure with the Escapist
Please take a look at this article in online games magazine the Escapist today, edited together by Game People overlord Paul Govan from my Story Gamer articles and a bit of commentary from me.
I'm quite excited by this. When I left my day job last year, I had a long 'to-do' list of objectives. Some of them were knocked on the head by the current state of publishing – one magazine folded the week I was intending to send some sample reviews to them. Others are ongoing.
One quite high up the list was 'get something into the Escapist'. Even leaving aside the fact that it's the home of Zero Punctuation, I've always liked the Escapist's diverse approach to games coverage, the very different, personalised approaches by all the authors, video creators, etc.
I've pitched a couple of articles to them which were rejected, very nicely and politely, and I'll definitely pitch again. But in the mean time, working for Game People has resulted in today's piece, part of Paul's Game People Calling series highlighting GP's various writers and approaches.
Seeing my words on the Escapist is a lovely extra perk to what is already a rewarding gig. It's an exciting time to be writing about games, with lots of great new titles coming out, and a rapid evolution in both the games themselves and the way they are discussed. Both the Escapist and Game People sit outside the traditional games journalism that I've been reading since the days of Amstrad Action et al, showcasing personalised writing that goes beyond the old style 'great graphics, great sound, 7 out of 10' reviews. It feels like there's a lot to write about.
Night Note
I was up late last night writing it, and now it's up on Gamesindustry.biz:
Nothing more to add, really. Enjoy!
Things I have done this week, instead of blogging:
- Seen the New Pornographers live at 93 Feet East. Great band, who make a tremendous noise. They were due to do Glastonbury on Friday, and hopefully that will give them more exposure in the UK. Excellent venue as well, you've got to like a gig venue with a beer garden.
- Bought a Wii, then didn't take it out of the box. Having missed out on previous restocks, I thought it wise to grab one when I could this time, especially with Resident Evil 4 (Wii Edition) on pre-order and due in the next week. I know, saaaad.
- Watched, bemused, as my article about the Resistance/Manchester Cathedral furore, Reality Bites, sat on top of the GI.biz top five most-read stories for much of this week. Further evidence that the industry needs to be smarter when dealing with difficult real world topics came with the BBFC giving Rock Star a bloody nose over Manhunt 2, banning the title. This was the first blow in a week which saw the title put on hold due to being pretty much unreleasable worldwide. Ouch. For sensible commentary on this issue, read this piece by Rob Fahey. As for the political blah around the issue, one needs to bear in mind the previous record of some of the participants in this debate.
- Seen Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Cosmic!
- Enjoyed the last issue of The Lightning Saga in Justice League of America. That makes one of me – everyone else seemed to hate it.
Things I haven't done
- Reviewed last week's Who.
- Written the GI.biz areticle I'm delivering at the end of the month.
Hmmm, better get on with it.
It's too late at night to think of a title for this post.
Couple of quick items before I crash out face down on the laptop:
My latest GI.biz piece covers the recent complaint by the Church of England regarding the use of Manchester Cathedral in the game Resistance: Fall of Man, and aims to add some context. You can find my article here.
I'm not the only person to chip in on the debate. Doesn't he have packing to do?
Looks like this one may run for a while.
Meanwhile, over on Shiny Shelf, I've finally got around to reviewing Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Blink review to follow, some time after sleeping.
Something Blu
A new article by me is up at GI.biz, this time on the Blu-ray vs HD DVD kerfuffle and what it means for the current console wars.
I'm currently working on a couple more pieces for the site, which is keeping me away from Shiny Shelf (although thankfully young Robson has stepped into the breach to review a new comedy) and this blog quite a bit. With a busy day job and a friend's wedding this weekend, I'm finding surprisingly little time to faff about.
However, I have found time to maintain my fevered state of Resident Evil/Wii related anticipation. Tim Rogers' Action Button review of Resident Wiivil 4 (albeit the Japanese no-gore version) is an entertaining read and makes some good points about all versions of the title. His criticisms didn't really put me off, as I didn't gel with Gears of War at all so don't find comparisons particularly compelling, and so the review as a whole has really only ramped up my anticipation.
Hmmm, I may have miscalculated by not snapping up a Wii in the few days recently when London was well-stocked with them. Well, here's hoping for a rapid restock.
Very busy week and I'm close to crashing altogether, so I'll just point you to a new Gamesindustry.biz article by me and leave it at that.
Cross Animals
Brilliant, brilliant story on Kotaku (from free London shitsheet Metro) on a little girl who got sweary messages in Animal Crossing… which she must have put in herself. The characters in the game deserve it especially, as Kotaku notes, that ******* Tom Nook.
Kind of awesome: Animal Crossing gets sweary.
(Yeah, no Xmas this week either. Go suck it.)
Busy week, with little to say except:
- Just as I manage to break my Puzzle Quest addiction, another sap falls victim.
- Kevin Church has shown us the movie version of the mk 1 Iron Man armour, and lo it was good.
- I'm not going to be around for this week's Little Xmas, but I will be picking up All-Star Superman #7 at the very very very soonest opportunity. That really is a great comic.
- Action Button is an awesome games review site of high awesomeness, the writers of which will not appreciate their site being referred to in such crude terms. Hilarious vitriol for all the family
More next week, promise…
I haven't bought a Wii yet, not because the console doesn't look good – I've played 'Wario Ware' and 'Wii Sports' over at the Camden Leisure Pirate's place, and it's a great system – but because I don't play on the consoles and games I already have enough to justify buying another one at this stage.
However, the temptations really are piling up. As is fairly obvious, I love Capcom. 'Resident Evil', 'Dead Rising', and even the odd game that doesn't involve the massacring of undead hordes. I'm also quite a fan of the odd puzzle game, from 'Tetris' to the more recent likes of 'Zoo Keeper'.
Being actually human, I also like pirates (and not just friendly ones who live in Camden). Arrrr.
Well, Capcom have today announced 'Project Treasure Island Z', a game which combines both puzzles and pirates. That's puzzle gaming, with a pirate theme. Just think about it for a while… the joys of solving puzzles, with a piratical theme. Arrrrr.
I am intrigued.


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here some of kodak moments :
And on Sunday nite as i mention before, we have dinner at Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club to celebrate 45th years anniversary of smk lutong..since we r not allowed to wear anything not formal other than baju batik, which I don't care.. so I decided to wear my purple plain bj kurung moden and adding up some accessories, iaitu waist belt and batik print (sort of) shawl.
Quest of honor is Datuk Peter Chin, Menteri Komuniti & Perladangan Sarawak, plus former principals & teachers, ex-students and semua mereka2 yang terlibat secara langsung or tidaklah dalam kejayaan smk lutong in 45 years ni, and thank god da ceremony went on smoothly incld da launching of school website and pelbagai lagilah. Generally, it was a pleasant ceremony. here some pictures at the event :
p/s : will upload more pics later xoxo mafis


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I know, many of you have probably made one of these tie blankets before but this is the first one I've made and it turned out so cute! It is a Christmas gift for my Grandma but I love the pattern and these colors so much, I really want to keep it for myself! I won't though, I think Grandma will really like it.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Look what I made!
I know, many of you have probably made one of these tie blankets before but this is the first one I've made and it turned out so cute! It is a Christmas gift for my Grandma but I love the pattern and these colors so much, I really want to keep it for myself! I won't though, I think Grandma will really like it.
Posted by buttafly at 10:31 PM 5 comments
Christmas Program
Ashlyn had a little Christmas Program this morning at her school. Gabe and I went to watch her little performance and she did a great job! She sang 3 songs along with the 2nd grade classes and it was really cute.
Posted by buttafly at 10:24 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wild Animal Park
We went to the Wild Animal Park today for a playdate and had a lot of fun with our friends!
Posted by buttafly at 7:35 PM 0 comments
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Santa Sighting
We went to Ashlyn's school on Saturday for a fundraiser breakfast with Santa. The food was actuallly really good (catered by a local cafe) and the kids got to talk to Santa and pose for a picture with him. Gabe told Santa that he would really like cars, airplanes, and trains for Christmas this year. (This was the first time he has asked Santa for anything.)
Ashlyn asked for just one more Webkinz.
The Santa wasn't all that great, but he rode in on a firetruck so I suppose that makes up for his crappy costume.
Posted by buttafly at 9:35 PM 0 comments
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Gabe's Portraits
Ashlyn just got her portraits done at school and I like to have Gabe's done around the same time. So Gabe and I went on a playdate at Quail Botanical Gardens and we took a few pics there. Here they are:
Posted by buttafly at 11:24 AM 3 comments
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A Great Thanksgiving
So my parents and grandma drove to So Cal to see us and share Thanksgiving. We had SO MUCH fun with them while they were all here. The visit was so much fun that they were easily persuaded to stay just one more day.
Mom, Grandma, & I went to see Twilight on Sunday and we loved it. Grandma wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but she enjoyed going out to a movie anyway. We also visited an antique store, walked up and down Main Street in Fallbrook, and visited a nursery where Mom & Don picked up a couple of Hibiscus plants for our front yard. (Thanks guys!!)
We made Thanksgiving dinner together on Thursday (everything turned out great!) and enjoyed it at the brand new dining set that my parents gave us as an early Christmas gift. (We LOVE it!!!)
On Friday we all went to the zoo and had a great time seeing all of the animals. We lucked out with the weather and Grandma really enjoyed the scooter that we rented. After the zoo, we went to dinner at On the Border and then Mom and I went shopping! Yes... we sure did a lot of shopping. I got all of my Christmas shopping done for the kids!
We really had a fun visit with them all and we are so grateful to have been able to have family here to spend the holiday with us. Thanks Mom, Don, and Grandma for making this Thanksgiving memorable for us!! We love you and miss you already!
Grandpa got the plant out of the pot...
and Ashlyn put it in the ground.
There were 2 baby tigers in the enclosure.
There goes Grandma... still smiling!
I think Don liked the Polar Bears! ;)
Ashlyn playing with a Polar Bear statue.
Posted by buttafly at 7:43 PM 3 comments


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*In Partnership with
About Rachael Chong: As an investment banker, Rachael was shocked by the lack of opportunities for her to volunteer her professional skills. Frustrated by her inability to serve the greater good while keeping her day job, Rachael left corporate finance to work in microfinance. A year later, Rachael helped start-up BRAC USA, the U.S. affiliate of BRAC, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world. She has a Masters of Public Policy Degree from Duke University and graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College at Columbia University.
About Catchafire: Catchafire matches professionals who want to volunteer their skills with nonprofits and social enterprises that need their help. The site matches volunteers and organizations based on a variety of characteristics including skills, cause interests, and time availability. Catchafire also help organizations identify their needs as short-term, discrete, and individual-based projects. Projects are structured in this way to make it easy for professionals to find time to volunteer in the midst of their busy daily lives.
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Ella Smethurst Q&A
Lately I've been exploring the artwork of Ella Smethurst via Instagram. I'm a bit of a frenetic instagram scroller...but I always slow down my scrolling and pause for my favourite subscriptions...Ella is one of them. I love how her work can be sketch-like and whimsical with soft watercolours one minute, and then vibrant and strong in acrylics the next. In parts dreamlike, in others (particularly portraits) beautifully realistic. I've always admired people who can draw and paint...it's a bit of a mystery to me...so watching Ella's progress and layering until she reaches the finished piece is one of my favourite aspects. She's had her work shown in places as far reaching as Dubai...and is represented locally by View Point Handmade Gallery. There are a series of three of her pieces in the current Small Works Art Prize...and the exhibition runs from September 6-22nd. My favourite of the series is Lost (see thumbnail)...and I dropped in to check out the opening night last Friday...so many amazing artworks. Make sure you check it out and vote for your favourite!
Ella was kind enough to allow me to pick her brain...she's just as lovely in person as you would imagine her to be :) Read on for her answers...
Have you always painted/sketched/been creative or is it something you've become interested in recently?
I spent a lot of time drawing growing up, starting from quite a young age. My Mum encouraged me at first, and then as I grew older I used to draw as an emotional release. I guess getting lost in a drawing was my escape. After high school I didn't draw for a long time, but when I finished studying three years ago I bought myself some oil paints and learned to mix colours. I haven't really stopped painting since!
What mediums / styles have you explored and what is your favourite lately?
I've explored a few mediums; oils, collage, watercolour, and currently I'm enjoying painting with acrylics. In terms of style, that is what I'm focusing on developing at the moment
Where do you get inspiration from...and when you find yourself in a "creative rut" how do you break out of it?
I get a lot of inspiration from looking at art and photos of people or animals that I find beautiful. The 'creative rut' thing is tricky. Sometimes I just make myself sit down and draw until something starts to work.
How do you find combining a day job with being an artist?
As with anybody and a hobby outside of work it is hard to find time and juggle commitments. I usually paint between 9-12pm at night. Having a stressful day at work doesn't really affect my creativity, if anything sometimes I think it drives me to paint even more.
Tell us about where your work has been shown or used in the past?
This year I have branched out a lot more with my paintings. One highlight was having works flown to and shown in Dubai as part of the INDEX International Design Exhibition in the World Trade Centre. I also really enjoyed painting a website header for the beautiful blog She Sows Seeds by Emma Steendam.
I love seeing `in progress' posts on your blog/instagram...how have you found combining blogging/social media with your artistic side?
Using social media has played a big part in helping me grow and develop as an artist. I began with making a Facebook page and started to show some of my work and everything led on from that. Now, I also have a blog which I use as an online portfolio and I love seeing and being inspired by all the new art being shared on Instagram.
Who are some of your favourite artists?
Some of my favourite current artists are Ghostpatrol, Audrey Kawasaki, Amy Sol, Agnes Cecile, Andy Kehoe and Lee Minaj.
Where can we find your work currently?
Currently I have some paintings on show in the Small Works Prize at Viewpoint Handmade Gallery and I also have paintings for sale at Viewpoint in the downstairs shop. In the near future I will also have paintings for sale in the amazing new Geelong restaurant There There.
What are five new to-us blogs/instagrammers you love that we could add to our list of reads?
Instagram – hifructosemag // art_collective // amysol
Blogs – Illustration Age // She Sows Seeds
Favourite thing about living in Bendigo?
My favourite thing about Bendigo is how friendly and kindhearted the people are. I also love that there's no traffic or long commutes!
Thanks Ella! (Blog // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter)
I'm always interested to read how people balance working with their creative side...so it was really interesting to see that Ella finds a full-on day at work can fuel her creativity....which is the complete opposite of what happens with me! Next time I'm about to hit the couch for some mindless reality TV to balance out the craziness of my day, I should try to channel that towards being creative instead...maybe just with The Rachel Zoe Project on in the background ;)


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G.H. Bass & Co. Womens Felicity Ballet Flat Shoe Tan 511911609 NVWQZEF
- $60.07$116.86
- Product Code:NVWQZEF
- Availability:In Stock
- G.H. Bass & Co
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- Note: Pewter and Silver have metallic suede upper // Black, Pine, Navy, Wine have velvet upper
- Imported
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- Lightweight and comfortable says it all, a must-have ballet flat silhouette made with genuine leather. Comfort features include a leather sock lining, dual density footbed, and a hidden comfort wedge. The rubber outsole is durable. The Felicity ballet flat from G.H. Bass & Co. can be worn during your morning commute, office meetings, or a night out.
G.H. Bass & Co. Womens Felicity Ballet Flat Shoe Tan 511911609 NVWQZEF


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About Us
South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSFSC) and Blue Line Transfer,Inc. are family-owned companies that have been providing solid waste and recycling services to our local communities since 1914. We strive to provide quality service to our customers, minimize the negative impacts of our collection and processing operations and maintain a safe work environment for our employees. We proudly serve businesses and residents in South San Francisco, Millbrae, Brisbane and San Francisco International Airport.
SSFSC provides a full range of pre- and post-collection services to assure efficient, responsive, and hands-on waste management in the face of rapidly changing regulatory and environmental challenges. Since moving to their current location in 2001, SSFSC and Blue Line Transfer and Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) continue to upgrade their processing equipment to accommodate increased diversion of construction and demolition debris, wood waste, plastics, commercial food waste and other materials. Read more about it here
Since our inception we have been on the cutting-edge of the latest advances in waste management technology and service. In 2013, we began construction on the nation's first anaerobic digestion facility that processes food scraps into compressed natural gas (CNG), which fuels our collection fleet. Our efforts have been recognized with multiple community awards.
Fast Facts
tons of waste collected annually
tons of food scraps, yard trimmings and food soiled paper products converted into renewable fuel and compost, every year.
What others say about us
only ever delightful customer service, cardboard dumpster, trash dumpster and two recycling toters pick up.
while there is no other option in ssf, scavenger knows this and does the best job possible for the community it serves. i have only ever been impressed with what they do.
We've been a residential and business customer for years (15+) and never had a problem. They take extra bags for us, put our cans back where they belong, and we've never had a complaint. They forgot us once (since our cans are behind a fence, and I called and they came over the same night to get our bags. That's service!
recycling here is organized. Bring your id. It does however stink here.
South San Francisco Scavenger Company has THE best customer service staff. I wish there was a way to have them train the people I have to deal with on the phone every day. It would make it a lot easier not to feel the decline in business.


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The Project Plan Room app was designed to increase efficiency and collaboration between field staff and the office. It also provides subcontractors with a powerful tool to get the latest construction data on site.
The app allows contractors and subcontractors to remotely access the latest versions of plans, specifications, drawings and other documents. It synchronizes with Spectrum's Plan Room application, ensuring that users have the most up-to-date project information at their fingertips. Users are able to quickly zoom in on documents for more details or a closer look at drawings and sketches.
The app works online or offline, with no dependency on an Internet connection in order to operate or view documents. Once an Internet connection is established, synchronizing with Spectrum for updates or new document versions is a simple, one-tap function.
The Project Plan Room app was developed for Android, Apple, and Windows Surface tablets. The app is currently available from the online app stores.