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Quote: Noticing Your Life May 24, 2013Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: distraction, mindfulness, present moment, quote
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"What you begin to see is that the place where you thought your life occurred–the cave of ruminaton and memory, the cauldron of anxiety and fear–isn't where your life takes place at all. Those mental recesses are where pain occurs, but life occurs elsewhere, in a place we are usually too preoccupied to notice, too distracted to see:
Right in front of your eyes.
Lift your arms up to eye level, wiggle your fingers and see for yourself. That's where your life is, that's where your life always has been, in front of you."
– Karen Maezen Miller, Hand Wash Cold
Leaving Facebook to be More Loving February 22, 2013Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: buddhism, distraction, family, lovingkindness, meditation, present moment, quote
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After years of dedicated use, I recently got rid of my facebook account because I noticed that it was negatively affecting my relationships. Being off of facebook means I am more able to pay attention and offer my true presence to someone. And offering my attention is a form of love.
A few months ago, in the midst of a big transition of a new job and new place, I got off of facebook. For good. It was a decision I had been considering for some time, because I could see many advantages and disadvantages of my account.
Facebook was great to have for keeping in touch with friends and relatives, especially while I was living so far from home. In fact, I told myself that the only reason I kept it was to message my relatives who lived so far away, and who I only saw once per few years at best.
The disadvantages were numerous as well, and I'll only talk about a few of them. A big disadvantage was that it was a huge source of distraction. At any time while logged in, I was likely to go off on what I call an "online tangent," or clicking on one link after another for large amounts of time, despite alternative intentions.
Another disadvantage was that while I did have access to people's accounts, my attention was dispersed when I tried to interact with multiple people at once.
And a final disadvantage was I ended up focusing on quantity over quality of friends. I had so many "friends" on my account, but most of them were not my true friends because I didn't really care about them all that much.
I got off facebook in order to exchange one form of communication for another. Facebook is not the only way to communicate with the people I love—just as my prairie grandmothers! (Another form of communication I prefer is phoning, when I can actually interact with a live person in a give-and-take conversation and hear their voice.)
I wanted a more real form of communication: to be in the real presence of a person, to see a living, breathing human being in front of me. Real communication is more loving because I am able to pay attention to the person. In fact, when you get right down to it, attention is love: (to quote Karen Maezen Miller) what we pay attention to grows and thrives, while what we neglect withers and dies.
Thay teaches that the most loving thing we can do for another person is to be able to say, "I am here with you," (no, you don't actually have to say it out loud!). We have to be completely with someone in the present moment, body mind and heart.
Attention is related to meditation because meditation is the practice of cultivating the ability to pay attention. The less time I spend on facebook, the less distracted I ams, the stronger my ability to attend, and therefore the move loving I become.
So I decided to trade up numerous micro-instances of internet attention for rare periods of intense attention in the real presence of someone.
I think by being off facebook altogether, I am not only encouraging love to grow in others, but I am able to receive love more from my friends and family. If being with me in person is the only or best way someone is able to get in touch with me, then they are going to make sure to pay attention to me while they have the chance. Also, my facebook absence means that I can attract my true friends, thus gaining "quality over quantity." My true friends want to be with me and will be willing to take the time to meet with me in person.
It was a difficult decision to make, but getting off facebook was one of the best things I've ever done. I have no regrets! I find that I can be a more loving person when I am able to devote all of my attention to someone when I am really with them. Being able to give my full attention in the present moment is, I believe, one of the most loving things I can do.
Only One Dish At A Time February 8, 2013Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: anxiety, buddhism, career, concentration, distraction, effort, faith, freedom, happiness, joy, letting go, mindfulness, present moment
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I have found a few instances where being mindful of the present moment can bring a great deal of relief from the stress of a mind overwhelmed by a huge task to accomplish. The title refers to being mindful of only being able to wash one dish at a time in order to complete the task of washing a whole sinkful of dishes.
Note: This is my 2nd post on the theme of washing dishes. Originally I had intended to include this piece in last week's post Insights from Washing Dishes, but the post was getting a bit lengthy and I decided to use it as a 2nd post this week.
I often go through spells of doing a big batch of cooking at once to last for a few days, and this baking and cooking from scratch can create quite a pile up of dirty pots and pans. It probably doesn't help that I am tired from a stint of cooking, but I often feel overwhelmed at the thought of making my way through a sink full of dishes to be washed. It can often require me to muster up a great deal of encouragement to convince myself to actually complete the task, instead of just procrastinating and leaving it for "later."
This thinking about washing a sinkful of dishes is exactly the problem. I can't wash a sink full of dishes. When I am really mindful, I know that I only have one hand to hold the dish cloth and one hand to hold a single dish at any given moment. In reality, my body can only wash one dish at a time.
Nevertheless, my mind tries to wash an entire sinkful. It takes in all of the information of the entire job to be done start to finish, projecting far into the future. In a way, the mind is "biting off more than it can chew". And so the result is feelings of dread and overwhelm.
Mindfulness of the present moment can bring quite a relief to the burden of an overwhelmed and stressed mind when I can see that I only wash one dish at a time. And then one more dish. And one more. And one more…And so on until finally they are all done! All that I have to do is to take care of this moment. And this moment. And this moment. Wow, its so much easier! Suddenly I feel light, and a sense of ease; washing dishes really is more enjoyable.
I soon had an opportunity to apply this insight to another aspect of my personal circumstances. I dislike marking student term papers. Personally, I think its an impossible task, but I only think so now after trying very hard to do the impossible and undergoing a great deal of stress. In the midst of all of this, I was able to see that it was much more stressful to try to read through and mark the entire stack of papers from a whole class.
Instead, I could simply take one paper at a time, do the necessary work, and reassure myself that I can reevaluate at the end whether more time was available for further additions. Although the more methodical strategy requires me to trust in my capability to do the job efficiently and satisfactorily.
Nevertheless, I was successful in applying this insight to marking papers when I could concentrate only on the task at hand. I gave my full attention to a single paper at a time, and when I was done I set it down and let it be released from my mind. While I wouldn't say marking was suddenly enjoyable, it was a great deal easier without constantly fighting with and pushing myself to work faster, or worrying about how long it was going to take to be done.
The insight of only one moment at a time can be applied to so many activities in my everyday circumstances in order to feel a sense of freshness, lightness, and ease. When I'm walking, it's just this step, just one foot in front of the other. Just one piece of clothing to fold. Just this e-mail to write. To me, this approach embodies Zen when I give my full attention to whatever I am doing at any given moment.
I hope that I can find more and more activities to apply the perspective of only one moment at a time. It does take some mental effort, I will admit, to let go of the other preoccupations that visit my mind, and focus on the task at hand. In my opinion, this mental effort is an investment: it may take an input of some energy at first, but once it becomes more habitual, it pays off in the end when I use less energy and therefore have more energy and attention to give to the other activities and people I love. Thay has described it as an art to know how to live freely in the present moment by casting aside our worries. It is an art to know how to be skilful in where to focus my attention.
Nourishment and Healing: Being in Wilderness January 11, 2013Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: anxiety, buddhism, consumerism, distraction, impermanence, joy, mindfulness, nature, non-self, present moment
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For as long as I can remember, being able to spend time immersed in wilderness and natural settings has provided me with an abundant source of wholesome states of joy and restoration. I would like to describe how I have incorporated wilderness into my personal situation, what this process looks like for me, and what effects I regularly notice. While I possess a need to be in wilderness that could be viewed as a weakness or a limitation, I have had to look at this tendency as a definite strength at the same time.
Thay puts emphasis on being able to come home to ourselves—body, mind, and heart—in the present moment in order to restore ourselves and to not be swept away by circumstances in which we find ourselves. I have always really treasured this emphasis and I will readily support the benefits of the practice of stopping, calming, resting, and healing.
When I consider the many different strategies or tools I use to take good care of myself—mind, heart, body and spirit—wilderness is certainly a prominent one. I have repeatedly and consistently found that our Eearth and wilderness has profound effects to restore myself in times of feeling severely depleted of well-being, health and energy and from burdens of anxiety, stress and fear. I could even call it my own form of "wilderness therapy."
How does this process of restoration in wilderness occur? It has happened regularly enough for me these past few years that I am at the point where I have consciously built it into my personal situation. First, I am able to recognize feelings of separation from our Earth, alienation, loneliness in myself, the effects of anxiety and tension, and exaggerated self-focus of a modern urban lifestyle. Even if these states don't happen to be present, I will go into wilderness anyway to receive a good "boost" to last for some time.
I make arrangements to spend any length of time, from at least 20 minutes, to a few hours, to most of a day. I avoid any distractions (talking on cell phone, listening to music) in order to give my full attention to my surroundings in each moment. I take my time while I explore and move around (walk, cycle, canoe paddle, ski, snowshoe) at a slow pace, enjoying opportunities to stop, sometimes to sit or lie down, and take in everything: to look around, listen to sounds or just the silence, enjoy the smells, feel the air and wind or my body against the ground. When I go into wilderness, it is a full sensory experience and I am fully immersed in our living world.
The effects after such an immersion are immediately noticeable and I consistently find that I am more relaxed and energized, optimistic, carefree, open-minded, and content. Of course, the "r" words usually come to mind most easily to best describe what happens: I feel refreshed, renewed, rejuvenated, revitalized, and restored.
I used the word healing in the title deliberately; I do experience being healed when I am in wilderness. I don't mean a cure for some disease, but healed in the meaning of the word "to make whole." I am made whole again when I come back to and integrate a vital aspect of myself and my experience of reality or what is most real.
When I first moved to the city and experienced the split in myself as a result of being cut off from wilderness, I thought that I possessed some sort of weakness, or some defect in my makeup that put me at a disadvantage over other city-dwellers. And I believe this to be true; I am limited in a sense. I can't live completely indoors without being able to get around outside daily (and sitting inside of a vehicle does not count!). I can't go for any length of time, such as a few days, without returning to spend time in—at the very least—some sort of green space (a park, a forest, a riverbank, a field). I have to accomodate my regular short- and long-term routine around taking trips into wilderness. I can't handle long, extended trips in an urban setting, such as downtown Montreal for example, or where I am stuck inside. And finally, I can't live in the city long term. Also, I find that my need for wilderness and having the living world as my ground of reality leaves me not completely satisfied by the Buddhist teachings and material across which I've come so far.
Nevertheless, as a source of self-assurance and a coping strategy to deal with living in the city, I have had to acknowledge that my need for wilderness can also be a strength. First, my source of healing and nourishment is, thanks to my current circumstances, free to acquire and simple to fulfill. It doesn't cost anything to go for a walk in the forest, or a bike ride along the river. I am empowered when I don't have to give my power over to a corporation to be nourished, in contrast to purchasing material objects or services, such as an iPhone or paying for a massage.
Second, I think that my way of finding nourishment actually reflects a lifestyle that is more human in that it better represents how we can live happily and healthily according to our basic needs. I think humans have a need to be around other living beings—both plants and animals— and immersed in the natural elements, cycles, and rhythms of our Earth. This is how our species has existed for all but the tiniest fraction of our evolutionary time on the planet, and it is to what we are adapted.
Finally, I think that it is a strength because the wilderness is where I find the dharma, the Buddha's teachings reflecting the true nature of reality. I find the law of impermanence in the shifting and moving clouds across the sky, the decay of an old tree trunk, the steady erosion of a riverbank, and in a cracked and mossy boulder. I discover the law of interdependence in a handful of living soil full of decayed plants and microorganisms, admidst the frenzied activity of a still forest, and in the soil to which a flower is rooted for its entire life. I see clearly the teachings of nonduality when I cannot draw a straight line between the wetness of the lake and the firm dry land of the shore, between the crisp warm air of late summer and the changing leaves of autumn or between the low prairie and the tall encroaching forest.
My need to be in wilderness has offered a profound and powerful way to be nourished and restored as a result of living an urban lifestyle. This trait has brought its difficulties in having to make accommodations for it by spending extended periods of time outdoors, but it is who I am and I have learned to embrace its benefits.
Meditation and Voluntary Simplicity December 7, 2012Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: career, consumerism, distraction, meditation, mindfulness, present moment, sangha
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I would like to write a post about meditation and voluntary simplicity, which are two activities in which I am dedicated that are quite important to me. This post is prompted by an upcoming book club meeting I will be attending in a few days to discuss Less is More by Cecile Andrews and Wanda Urbansky. I also wanted to write about these two topics together, because I recall that I became interested in both of them at the same time, and its easy to see how interest in one may have prompted interest in the other, and vice versa.
First I will start with a statement that I think should be included in any discussion of voluntary simplicity: I occupy a position of privilege and power that allows me the luxury to be able to choose voluntary simplicity that many people can't afford to make. I have to acknowledge that my existence as a White, university-educated, middle-class, able-bodied, English-speaking, young, healthy woman makes it much easier for me to choose a different lifestyle than it would be for others. In other words, people can't afford to choose voluntary simplicity when they are denied their basic rights and struggling to make ends meet.
So what is voluntary simplicity? Simply put, it is choosing to simplify my lifestyle, or to live a more "simple life," by scaling back on the unnecessary details that occupy my life situation and end up only making me miserable. Much of the philosophy has to do with scaling back on material possessions and external goals, to live a more balanced life valuing intrinsically satisfying goals and inner experience.
However, to tie the philosophy specifically to the practice of meditation, I'll focus on one important aspect of voluntary simplicity: slowing down. Voluntary simplicity involves slowing down the hectic pace of my life situation to take the time to enjoy the pleasures of being alive, while I am still living on our Earth.
In this way, voluntary simplicity is closely linked to a similar movement, the Slow Food movement. The philosophy behind the Slow Food movement is that when taking the time to grow, buy, prepare, and/or eat our food at a slower pace results in food that will be much healthier for our bodies and more satisfying.
Besides slowing down food habits, voluntary simplicity supports slowing down different areas of the modern lifestyle as a protest to the hectic, fast-paced modern world of electronic gadgets and work productivity. If I am always rushing from one task to the next—from sleeping to dressing to transportation to work to eating to exercising to recreation to socializing—I'm not really enjoying any of my experience because I'm so caught up in "nexting," in getting to the next thing.
Meditation practice can be a way to slow down and simplify my life situation. I think it could be said that there are some forms of relaxation meditation that might be away to maintain a fast-paced habit, when meditation would be used to relieve the symptoms of experiencing stress in a fast-paced world. Relaxation meditation could be a way to recover the body and mind for a short time, in order to get up and do it all over again.
I don't see mindfulness meditation as meant for the purpose of relaxation, although relaxation is an essential ingredient for the practice if I want to do it skilfully. Instead of using meditation to relieve or cover up the symptoms, mindfulness meditation has the goal of curing the disease. The goal is to cut the root of what makes me stressed in the first place. And efforts toward that goal aren't always necessarily experienced as relaxing.
Meditation is slowing down because I am deliberately setting aside the time for formal sitting practice. That is time that I could be using being busy and productive and getting other stuff done! In this sense, meditation at first seemed almost anti-productive. Nevertheless, when I actually started to practice meditation regularly, I realized that it can make me more productive when I am more aware of how I am doing tasks in a more skilful, efficient way. Meditation also fulfills the mind's need for rest and space, a concept that seems completely foreign in this day and age. Meditation practice can be refreshing and revitalizing when it gives the mind a break from the relentless, habitual thought patterns that leave me worn out. I can get up off the cushion feeling much more prepared to face the day.
Mindfulness meditation is a form of slowing down because in order to do a task mindfully, I have to do it slowly. I have to give my full and complete attention to whatever occupies my activity in the present moment. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches about having a Day of Mindfulness, where we take twice as much time to do anything (cooking, eating, cleaning, tidying, organizing, bathing, washing dishes, drinking tea, gardening, walking). It is at this slow pace that these simple tasks I overlook on my busy days actually become quite enjoyable in and of themselves.
Mindfulness is also slowing down because I am doing one thing at a time if I do it mindfully. Mindfulness supports the practice of uni-tasking! I have to do one thing at a time if I want to actually be aware of what I am doing. In this sense, mindfulness can contradict a multi-tasking culture that expects humans to run like computers: constantly, at high speeds, processing multiple amounts of information at once. When I am multi-tasking, like cooking and talking on the phone at the same time, I end up being less productive or efficient. If I pay close attention to the quality of what I am doing, I see that I end up doing two (or more) tasks at once to a poorer quality, because I make mistakes and I don't remember what I did afterward.
Spending time in meditation communities reveals to me that the people who attend these groups often have adopted similar attitudes and philosophies of slowing down and having a more simple life. It is quite refreshing to spend time with these people as a break from the dominant culture. Finally, I will add that one of the main reasons I chose not to pursue a PhD, despite many people's insistence that I should take that route, was that the end goal of having a doctorate degree was completely opposite to voluntary simplicity. The academic lifestyle is not at all what I would describe as balanced or slow, and it didn't appeal to me in the least.
I chose to focus specifically on the practice of meditation as related to voluntary simplicity, but my meditation practice is part of a larger spiritual practice that incorporates many more of the values of voluntary simplicity. I am quite excited for this upcoming book club meeting, and I know that I have enjoyed similar events in the past.
Speaking of books, here are some of the many titles I have read over the past few years on or related to the topic:
In Praise of Slow: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honore
No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process (should be no impact family in my opinion) by Colin Beavan
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende (androcentric writing warning)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of A Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich
Drowning Out My Inner Voice October 1, 2012Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: buddhism, distraction, meditation
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Drowning Out My Inner Voice; or Music versus Noise
The path of practice can bring about some wonderful and very fascinating transformations. One transformation I would like to share is my use of music.
Before starting practice, I listened to music quite regularly. I would have music playing in the background while doing other things, such as housework, cleaning, laundry, surfing the internet, etc. (except reading, because lyrics disrupt my processing of written words). I had an mp3 player that had to be playing anytime I was walking anywhere that took more than 5 or 10 minutes. Music was my entertainment. I used music as motivation to be happier, as consolation when I felt down, and an energizer at the gym.
Lately I have been finding that music is often just noise. I still love to listen and/or sing along to my favourite songs, and enjoy the energizing feeling from time to time of upbeat music. But I've noticed that when I listen to music, that's often all that I will be doing. I don't need to have music in the background all of the time while I am doing other tasks. I don't need to have music in my ears when I am walking somewhere—especially when it drowns out the sounds of birds singing, the other kind of music!
And I have especially noticed that my toleration of music has dropped. Whereas a few years ago I could listen to song after song, for hours on end, now I shut it off after a handful of songs with the thought, "ugh, it just sounds like more noise."
Why the change? Is it just pressure from the Buddhist/ meditation community to enjoy and appreciate silence? Or Thay's insistence that every moment of our waking lives is an opportunity to practice and enjoy our breathing?
No, I think its something else. Specifically, I think I have made friends with the voice in the back of my mind.
Before meditation practice, I think music was a way to drown out that inner voice that we all hear in the back of our minds constantly narrating our lives, giving the play-by-play commentary. I certainly heard it, loud and clear. And that voice so often was judgemental, critical, impatient, and filled with time urgency.
So music was a way to turn that switch off. I had a lot of other off-switches as well, including alcohol (a very effective off-switch), the internet, and reading. In other words, music was more than just entertainment, music was a distraction from my mental life, my inner life. Music was a way of ignoring what was happening in my mind.
Music still is a distraction for me. I still have plenty of distractions, some of them I am aware of, some of them I am still discovering.
But I think there has still been a big shift towards how I handle that inner voice. The voice of my mind is still critical, still judgemental, and still gets impatient. But not quite as much, I think. And I've also been able to tolerate it more, I'm able to handle the criticism and impatience. Because I just see it as part of a mind that is being used to do a lot of things all at once to fulfill a large number of desires.
And I enjoy silence so much more now. Silence allows me to relax, it allows my awareness to sink in to my surroundings. Silence can be a breath of fresh air, a huge relief. Silence seems to be more normal to me, more of the default than it ever has been before.
I have also made a big switch in the type of music I listen to. I still have CD's leftover from my high school years filled with angry hard rock. I still have many songs of women pining over their only one true love, their only life (gimme a break!). Except for the rare trip down memory lane, I listen to songs that make me feel good, songs that lift me up, energize me, and make me see the world in a positive way. Feel free to check out some of these songs on my page, Happy Listening. I find that the lyrics to these songs come to me even when I'm not listening to them, and when those phrases and lyrics are in the back of my mind it starts to make me see the world a whole lot differently.
How I Came to the Practice: Part 3 – Asian Exoticism and Zen for Dummies June 21, 2012Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: buddhism, distraction, effort, meditation
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(This is part 3 in a series on the full story of how I came to Buddhist meditation practice. Read part 1 and part 2 here.)
My exposure to Buddhist meditation first came through Asian culture in the media. As a teenager, I had somewhat of an exoticism for Asian culture. I was fascinated with a culture from a different part of the world that was so different and so far away from where I was living and the culture I grew up in.
I can remember enjoying Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which played on TV often. After seeing that movie I sought out similar movies with many of the same cast, including House of Flying Daggers.
I got the book Memoirs of a Geisha for an Xmas gift one year. I also played many video games during high school, believe it or not, and some of them had Asian settings or characters.
I also read my mom's women's style magazines and saw that Asian styles of interior decorating were in fashion at that time, particularly the "zen" simplicity look. I think the "zen" style appealed to me growing up in a very small and cluttered home.
I was also an avid reader of historical fiction throughout high school, and loved books set in different historical periods and locations. One day I came across the ridiculously long book Shogun about a Portugese trader who shipwrecked and is taken prisoner in 15th century Japan. I really enjoyed the book and learning about the setting and the culture portrayed. The book also included brief sections where the main character was introduced to Zen meditation and Buddhist religious beliefs, as well as other Zen practices like the tea ceremony.
Later I watched The Last Samurai and noticed similarities between the movie and the book Shogun. The movie also portrayed the main chracter being taught Zen meditation.
My interested was piqued. I wanted to learn more about this meditation technique. At the time, I was living on a farm near a small town in rural Saskatchewan and didn't know a single soul who had ever tried meditation. I didn't know a single Buddhist. There were no meditation teachers, groups or Buddhist temples. I turned to my familiar source of information: books.
I ordered a book called Zen for Dummies to be shipped to the tiny local library from a nearby city. I really enjoyed the book and learning about meditation, and still remember the metaphor of the finger pointing at the moon. I actually kept a list from the book of the top 10 things to remember about the Zen of romantic relationships.
One thing the book couldn't do was connect me to any local resources, because none existed. I was left on my own. I tried practicing meditation at home according to the book's instructions but wasn't able to get the hang of it. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't feel like it worked, it didn't do anything. I wasn't able to concentrate on my breath, and my mind was constantly wandering. (Little did I know at the time this is exactly what was supposed to happen during my first attempts at meditation practice.)
But I hadn't completely given up on meditation. Somehow the underlying idea behind it seemed to intuitively make sense to me. I felt like there was wisdom there to offer me. I just had to find a way to access it, to learn it.
I moved away from home and sporadically would try practicing meditation on my own for short periods, sitting on a half-folded pillow on the floor of my room. I had yet to meet another single person who practiced meditation or was a Buddhist.
My connection would be through a university elective course.
Living Simply…Simply Living? April 28, 2012Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: buddhism, consumerism, distraction, happiness, letting go, meditation
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The other night I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a local discussion group/ meet-up called a conversation cafe organized by the university and held at a downtown coffee shop/ art gallery. The theme of the talk was "Can we live more simply?", and as soon as I saw the title I knew this was something I would find worthwhile. I would certainly say it was one of the best events I've ever attended!
The main premise of the talk was for people to get together and talk about living more simply, whatever that means to them, how we might be able to do that, as well as why we should be doing it. For some people, living more simply meant giving up activities or objects (vehicles, technology, TV shows, always having the newest things), for others it meant doing other activities they never did before (getting to know their neighbours, making things yourself, visiting local tourist attractions).
I noticed during the talk that some of what was said by other people actually touched on very Buddhist concepts, or concepts that coincided with meditation. For instance:
– one woman described how much she enjoyed travelling in her youth, where she didn't carry a cell phone or laptop with her. She described how enjoyable it was just to be by herself, with herself, and not have any major distractions taking her attention away. To me this is similar to meditation and Buddhism because there is an emphasis on solitude and taking the time to pay attention to yourself without distractions.
– someone talked about how they saw that other people seem to be consuming or acquiring objects in order to fill a hole inside of themselves using external objects, instead of trying to find satisfaction internally. They also described how consuming can be a way to avoid having to face questions that can actually be quite scary, such as what is the purpose of my life, or why am I here? I think that meditation is a technique used to look deeply into the reasons why we are consuming and what satisfaction we get out of it, in order to determine whether those reasons are skillful or unskillful. And certainly, spiritual practice is a way to address the bigger questions of one's purpose in life, and meditation helps to do that. I think that a daily meditation practice gets me in touch with those deeper questions a little bit each day, maybe not even directly but indirectly (which might perhaps be better in some ways?).
– the fact that everyone was talking about the objects or activities that they were giving up in order to live more simply addressed the Buddhist principle that dissatisfaction/ suffering is caused by attachment, so letting go of objects and activities is a way to let go of our attachments and relieve our dissatisfaction.
I think another aspect that I really enjoyed about this talk was I got a sense of community, or of a group of people who were similar to me and shared similar values and lifestyles, that were getting together for the same purpose and goal. I really got a lot out of that, and this sense of community and similarity is really important to me. I find that I rarely get to meet many people in my day to day life who share my values of living simply and giving up consumerism and materialism, so it really is a treat for me to meet these types of people.
Most people I meet in meditation groups are much older than me, often middle-aged or retired. It seems that retirement makes having a regular meditation practice a lot easier. Rarely do I get to meet people my age or even younger than 40, so when I do meet someone my age, I really treasure it. The group that had gathered for this event was a mix of younger and older people, with a few people my age and younger (20's or early 20's), so it was really great to see that.
Also, this event couldn't have come at a better time for me, because living simply and having an "alternative" lifestyle is something that has been on my mind since the retreat. I found that on the retreat one of the topics that really came up as the answer to the question, "What gets in the way of my being truly happy?" was feeling pressure to live a life that I didn't want to live in terms of my lifestyle, my job, and where I live. Lately, I've been trying to embrace the vision or dream I have of my ideal lifestyle and really try to make it manifest in reality. It seems that the most important thing I can do is relentlessly search for what makes me truly happy.
So for me, being truly happy is one that allows me to have a lifestyle that doesn't necessarily fit with what I see around me as the "norm." I don't want to live a commercialized, consumerist, technological lifestyle. I am trying to embrace that as who I am, and live it with confidence that I am able to find what makes me satisfied.
Feb 17: Replaying the Past, Anticipating the Future March 3, 2012Posted by Living Abundance in Uncategorized.
Tags: distraction, generosity, present moment
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I meditated on campus this morning in a meditation room, and I had just come from some conversations with people I knew. I found that at the start of my sit my mind was still in these conversations, where I was replaying them in my mind and trying to determine if I said the right thing.
I was unable to focus my attention on my breathing for any longer than a few moments during my sit, my mind kept wandering off much too easily. There were just a lot of thoughts wandering through my mind, so I found it almost impossible to get concentrated.
When the bell went off this morning, I was making up a story about my vacation, in particular how this is a rare occasion for me to be going on a tropical vacation, compared to other people I know.
Before I leave today I want to share some thoughts about privacy and disclosure. I am a very private person and find it difficult to disclose any personal information about myself to just about anyone, including my closest friends. For myself, I recognize how valuable it is when I know that other people share similar experiences with me, and that I am not alone in my difficulties. Something I have been trying to do lately is be more open and honest with close and trusted friends and family, as well as acquaintances.
This writing project has been challenging for me to disclose things in writing I wouldn't even tell people in person. I've really noticed how I am still holding a lot of things back, where something happens but I decide I don't need to write about it: "People don't need to hear that." Let's just say it has been eye-opening for me to see how much I still am trying to keep things inside! But I do enjoy writing, so maybe with more practice I can get better at sharing my thoughts and experiences for others.


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'Scout & the Gumboot Kids' marches on
It sounds like a contradiction in terms: inspire kids to explore nature by having them watch other kids doing just that on TV.
Scout & the Gumboot Kids is that one rare children's show that manages to bypass the potential contradiction. The Vancouver-shot series has even earned endorsements from venerable organizations like The David Suzuki Foundation and the UCLA Global Media Centre for Social Impact for its efforts to inspire kids – and their caregivers – to get outside and experience the natural world.
"We wanted it to be an inspiration, and treat it like a bridge from the living room to the outdoors," says Eric Hogan, who created Scout & the Gumboot Kids with partner Tara Hungerford. "You watch the show, you get inspired, you go outside, and you can rejoice and enjoy the simplicity of just hanging out in nature and observing nature, as opposed to being really goal-oriented. You can just observe your surroundings."
Scout & the Gumboot Kids airs on CBC Kids and will soon launch its third season. Each five-minute episode features a mix of live-action and stop-motion cinematography.
The series is anchored by an inquisitive mouse named Scout (voiced by Adrian Petriw), who begins each episode with a question about something in the natural world (Why would an animal eat rocks? What kind of animal wears a raincoat?); the action cuts from Scout's stop-motion world to our live-action one populated by gumboot-wearing children on a mission to solve Scout's riddle. The kids' journey is accompanied by original music, written and performed by country superstar Jessie Farrell.
Scout & the Gumboot Kids won five awards at the 2017 Leos, including Best Children's Program, and was also nominated for a 2017 Canadian Screen Award for Best Pre-School Series.
Now, the Gumboot empire is poised for expansion with a 20-episode digital series and app called Daisy & the Gumboot Kids (featuring a crafts-loving city mouse voiced by My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic star Ashleigh Ball), and 40 episodes of the music-focused Jessie and the Gumboot Kids, starring Farrell.
It's a phenomenal moment of growth for a series that began "basically out of necessity," says Hungerford.
"Our children loved being outside, and we were always looking for inspiration from the media, and we found there weren't a lot of shows that were teaching new nature facts," says Hungerford. "At the same time, we were really delving into the idea of being present with them, and mindfulness, so we thought, 'What if we just start collecting ideas?' And then we had a show."
Hogan and Hungerford co-write the series with children's television veteran Cathy Moss (Franklin and Friends; The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!). The series builds on an observation that Hungerford and Hogan noticed about their own family: "when we spent a lot of time outside, our family was healthier and happier," recalls Hungerford.
"The kids slept better, and we, as parents, had to re-learn how magical nature is: a shadow, a ladybug, the snail in its little house." Thus, they wanted "to make a program that parents and grandparents and caregivers and teachers could watch to re-find the magic in the amazing, extraordinary things that we take for granted as we get older and forget sometimes" - unlike kids, who can be "completely blown away by a mud puddle."
Kids also love asking questions, says Hungerford, and through the character of Scout, they're able to "look beyond the surface, and ask questions and make observations, and not just with their eyes," she says. "Kids overuse their eyes because of things like media and because of how we're living these days, so [the series teaches them to] use all their senses to explore and ask questions."
Scout & the Gumboot Kids is family-viewing in the truest sense of the term, says Hogan. "We've designed it for co-viewing," he says. "We want parents to watch it with their kids. We want older siblings to watch with younger siblings." Between the stop-motion, the live-action, the music, the nature, and the mindfulness, "there's something for everybody."
On the live-action side – which requires the crew and the titular Gumboot Kids to shoot out in nature – it truly is a family affair. Hogan and Hungerford's children are featured as Gumboot Kids, as are Farrell's (another family connection: Farrell and Hungerford are sisters).
They typically shoot footage for three episodes over the course of an eight-hour day, and "it's really fun for the kids, which is why they look so natural," says Hungerford. "They never have to perform. Somehow we found a formula that makes this little village of kids get together, help each other out, and genuinely they are completely engaged in whatever we're leading them on these mystery tours for. They often spontaneously will feel inspired about something and it works perfectly on camera."
That's the live-action side. On the stop-motion side, the production moves at a slower pace. With the character of Scout, "usually in an eight-hour day, we'll get 12 to 20 seconds, and that's if everything goes well," laughs Hogan. Scout's world is 1:6 scale; they purchase most of their props from the global community of miniaturists, and work with Vancouver-based set builder Peter Tucker for many of the custom items, most recently an airstream for Scout (who is now venturing beyond his home to ask questions; for its third season, the team filmed episodes in Kamloops and Salmon Arm).
Then there's the upcoming Daisy & the Gumboot Kids, a digital series that features a city mouse named Daisy leading kids in crafts inspired by nature (Says Hungerfod: "It's super simple. It's all about the process for kids: collecting a little pinecone and making something with it and making a memory with it; it's not about making something that's perfect"). That's coming in the spring; this month, they'll begin rolling out 40 episodes of Jessie & the Gumboot Kids. "We both really believe that music plays a part in the experience of watching and consuming media, and Jessie's music is so beautiful," says Hungerford.
There's a hunger for this kind of programming all over the world, says Hungerford. "The show is really resonating with children in Australia, and it's been playing in South Korea and also in the Philippines, and now it's been picked up by Amazon on the Kids stream," she says. "It's actually doing what we wanted it to do, which was connecting with children all around the world and reminding families to get outside and to have fun while you're doing it by not trying to do too much."
Scout & the Gumboot Kids airs on Kids CBC. For more, visit the official web site or the Gumboot Kids Facebook page.


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Speed Racer : Free Celebrity AddressesClaim to Fame: 'Speed Racer' movie
The addresses below have been reported as outdated by the community.It's not recommended that you use these addresses. However, you can make a decision based on other results, the member that reported the address as outdated and their other contributions to the community.
Address 1:
Reported as outdated on 02/26/2009 by votto1fan 10, 80
Comments: dates dont make sense
Speed Racer
Studio Babelsberg AG
August-Bebelstr 26-53Potsdam
This is a temporary Venue AddressStarts: 6/5/2007 Ends: 9/5/2005
Notes: Actors: Christina Ricci, Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Kick Gurry
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You would've thought that Barbados was Crenshaw the way that Hills and I were bumping "Hol' Up" off of Kendrick Lamar's Section 80 while on our vacay. Obviously we aren't alone if this recent live footage from Austin's SXSW is any indication. Is that you Solange? We see you mesmerized. Also, Parlour favorite Esperanza Spalding headed over to Barcelona to shoot this clip for her latest single, "Radio Song," off of her latest album Radio Music Society. Shout-out to everyone stuck in their car daily in need of a little radio love for the ride home. Watch both new videos below:
Last 5 posts by Shannon Washington
- The Ultimate Trinidad Carnival / Crop Over Packing List - December 2nd, 2018
- The 17 Things We Can't Travel Without In 2018! - December 23rd, 2017
- Hotel Love: The Zen Oasis @ Club Med Punta Cana - March 15th, 2017
- Giving Back and Getting More in Batey Guajabo - February 7th, 2017
- Your Weekend Getaway In...Grenada! - January 22nd, 2017


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What if your OUTDOOR KITCHEN was as beautiful and functional as your INDOOR KITCHEN?
It can be with NatureKast Weatherproof Cabinetry and Trex Outdoor Storage! Call or e-mail us today and ask about our current promotions!
Doylestown, PA-based Open Door Building Solutions offers stock to fully-custom cabinetry for all residential & commercial uses from top industry manufacturers: Cabico Elmwood, Unique & Essence Series Cabinetry; Echelon, Fabuwood, Canyon Creek Cabinets; plus Grothouse wood countertops, the Galley Workstation, Trex Outdoor Storage & NatureKast Weatherproof Cabinetry, and everything you need for cabinet hardware & organization. Our award-winning personalized service means that our commitment to your satisfaction is among the highest in our industry! Call or e-mail us soon to come visit us, see our many doors and sample colors and discuss your project.


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Port Phillip remains the number 1 choice for many anglers when it comes to catching snapper. It can be less daunting for anglers who haven't done as much
snapper fishing as others, but can also get quite rough when strong winds rip up. This week we have had plenty of strong winds and rainfall which has
kept all but the keenest anglers off the water, but it has really knocked the snapper bite up another gear.
Early in the week as the Southwesterly blow backed off the fish bit very well, with good numbers moving about and right up into the shallower murky water
to feed. Customer Phil made the most of the bite and scored fish around the 6kg mark fishing out from Chelsea. Baits of squid and silver whiting were
the most effective for him. Customer Bashir has also been capitalizing on the good bite since the rain with fish to 5kg coming from 13m of water out
from Black Rock. Pilchard and gars have been the best baits for him.
Customer Dominic and mate Gary fished out wide from Mt Martha over early during the week to land some nice fish. The largest fish weighed just over 8.5kg
and took silver whiting. The hard baits have been a definite preference for the snapper over the last few weeks, with silver whiting deadly. Other
hard baits worth fishing have been small salmon or yakkas, with the pickers normally leaving these alone. Customer Sylvio fished out from Black Rock
using silver whiting and pilchard over the weekend and reports fish to 5kg biting well around the 12m area.
Members of the Keysborough Angling Club fished Port Phillip recently and most anglers reported snapper back at the weigh in. The largest fish weighed around
4.5kg, with plenty more caught between the 1-4kg mark.
While the snapper are the main focus at the moment, there have been some nice King George Whiting caught around the southern end of the bay. Customer Michael
fished around Tootgarook with mate Dominic and some nice solid were caught. Fishing around 6m of water was best, as the pinkies would take over in
the deeper water. Pipi and fresh squid was also very successful, with the squid giving some substance to the bait when the pinkies were hassling eh
whiting off the baits. The whiting should only improve from now on, with the Mt Martha-Rye-Blairgowrie region a good place to focus on.


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Gareth Davies (@me_gareth) is a leader at Empire Avenue.
And Gareth Davies is not a very intelligent man, I don't believe.
When I first met Gareth he was busy telling me he was a large and very sad man. This was on the Empire Avenue general community forums.
This is his very nature. To try to be intimidating.
Recognizing a predator right off, I resolved to keep track of ongoing events.
When I reported Gareth's abuse to Empire Avenue support via zendesk, support refused to act.
It's important to note what a Leader at Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) is.
This response from alleged "leader" Keith Gill is typical of many people at Empire Avenue and their response.
(Keith Gill's lack of caring for customers of Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) and concern for their safety is appalling.)
So I reported Gareth and the other abusers from Empire Aveue to the CA DoJ.
After all, their abuse took place primarily on Twitter (other social media sites handled the abuse remarkably fast) and Twitter is in California.
And I am in California.
And they responded back on June 5, 2014, telling me to file with IC3. So I did so.
Gareth simply continued his abuse on Twitter.
My reports to Twitter fell on deaf ears, so I reported to the San Francisco DA's office.
The DA's office twice opened files, and the CA DoJ opened an inquiry on 12/30/2014.
All of this because Empire Avenue was openly abusing their customers on Twitter (and elswhere) and Chris Sandys wanted that abuse "off the record."
The predatorial acts of one man caused multiple law enforcement actions which Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) has never acknowledged nor apologized for.
According to Ethel Newlin of the San Francisco District Attorney's office blogging helped change the policies in place at Twitter.
Want to be abused by a company you're a customer of? Give EmpireKred a try.
Gareth Davies is still a leader there, despite being suspended for tweeting a customers private information, violent threats and being warned again for violent threats.
And, upon examination you can see he's been abusing customers for years.
Customers still report being punished for asking for bug fixes.
It seems with new ownership there has been no change in management philosophy.
Avoid EmpireKred until their management and leadership philosophy changes from one that allows abuse of their own customers.


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WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Cigna Corp.'s Lovelace Health Systems unit is under investigation by the Department of Justice and by the inspector general's office of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a regulatory filing Thursday.
The investigation is regarding certain Medicare cost reporting practices used by Lovelace for the years 1990 through 1999, the company CI, -1.59% said. See full story.
BlackRock changes auditors
Mutual fund company BlackRock BLK, -2.80% said it has divided its auditor services between Deloitte & Touche and Ernst & Young.
Ernst & Young, previously responsible for auditing the New York-based money manager's financials, will now only provide the company with "various internal audit services," according to a filing with the SEC. See full story.
AMR expects Q1, full-year loss
American Airlines' parent company AMR Corp. expects to record a significant loss for the first quarter along with a loss for fiscal 2002.
AMR AMR, -2.48% said it wasn't able to provide an estimate for full year 2002 because it believes Sept. 11's impact on the company and the airline industry "will continue to be significant in 2002." See full story.


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On The Witness Of A Generous Giver
"From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted even more will be demanded." –Luke 12:48
Our words and actions affect other people! In reality, we are either an adverse or positive influence. Knowledge is the measure of our responsibilities. The more we understand about the Christian faith, the more practice is expected of us – and the more essential it is to use our gifts to build up the kingdom of God. Every well-meaning mission must begin with proper preparation, especially so in our journey of faith.
The Church blesses us with the gift of seven sacraments, and every one of them has divine and human dimensions. In Baptism, by the infusion of sanctifying grace, we have the life of God within us. We become part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth; and Christ made it clear that baptism is required for our salvation. God has assigned each of us to share this message.
When those we love make mistakes, it is difficult to reveal their faults. The morals in our culture continue to shift. Even the Apostles were affected by the culture they lived in. Like any good evangelist, we must remain faithful to the teachings of the Gospel. We are obscured in our understanding of truth if our hearts are not open to learn. A sincere and self-giving heart is the only way to share the message of Jesus!
I recently attended the 95th birthday party of a dear friend. Unknowingly, this man has influenced my life in a very positive way. Bob Tresslar and his wife, Maria Teresa "Teeter," celebrated almost 70 years of marriage before she died peacefully at home in March 2013. Growing up, I had the privilege of witnessing their great love for one another by attending Mass at the same church and going to school with their nine children. Even as a young child, I knew there was something very special about the way Bob and Teeter interacted with one another. It seemed that I never saw one without the other, and they were always holding hands. The Sacrament of Marriage is a divine gift, and you could witness the acceptance of this blessing in the Tresslar family.
Teeter was the daughter of a Mexican Diplomat, born and educated in New York City. She met Bob in a summer class at the University of Mexico in 1940. This love story continued through the years of WWII. Teeter became his wife, and a "Hoosier," by making her home in Bicknell, Ind., where her fire-pilot husband was a native. They later raised their family in Vincennes with a tremendous sense of appreciation for their bicultural background and the Catholic faith. For years, they worked tirelessly to support Catholic education in Vincennes. The same devotion was expressed when Teeter became ill; and for years, Bob never left her side. I believe their marriage was the perfect example of Christ's love for His Bride—the Church.
The legacy of genuine love for Christ and the generous giving of abundant life in marriage are invaluable to God's plan for the world. Bob and Teeter have given the most cherished gift to their nine children, 20 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. My life has been blessed by witnessing this inspirational commitment to love.
"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." –Hebrews 10:14
God bless people who demonstrate true love. Please thank those who share the joy! Thank you, Bob and Teeter! Amen!


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District News
High Court judge tells Arun to pay Aldingbourne Parish CouncilWritten by CPRE Sussex
Thursday 11 January 2018: A High Court judge asked Arun District Council to explain its conduct and ordered it to compensate a parish after housing plans the authority approved were overturned.
Letter: We need action, not warm wordsWritten by Stephen Hardy
Letter to Rye and Battle Observer, from Stephen Hardy, CPRE Sussex Trustee. Published 19 Jan 2018
The Campaign to Protect Rural England is pleased to see at last the Government's commitment to improving the environment shown in the 25-year plan launched last week, but we need actions, not simply warm words to ensure the Government provides the means to ensure we use resources wisely, from plastics to land.
High Court Judge Tells Arun to Pay ParishWritten by CPRE Sussex
A High Court judge asked Arun District Council to explain its conduct and ordered it to compensate a parish after housing plans the authority approved were overturned.
Arun District Needs You!Written by CPRE Sussex
Thank you to all who joined us in the wonderful Council Chamber at Littlehampton Town Hall. We were delighted to see so many people willing to turn out on such a cold night who share our concerns about the mounting threats to Arun's precious countryside, villages and towns. We were delighted to welcome Tony Whitbread from the Sussex Wildlife Trust and discovered so much about the uniqueness and wonder of the Arun Valley, its flora and fauna.
Letter: Close loophole that is enbling developers to evade affordable-homes obligationWritten by Roger F Smith
Letter published by West Sussex County Times, 7 December 2017
Lewes District updateWritten by John Kay
The Lewes Groups is concerned about one abuse already being operated in the house building business, and a second being lined up for the future through the Right Homes in the Right Places proposals recently consulted on.


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Richest Celebrities
Anthony Spud Webb Net Worth
Anthony Spud Webb Net Worth is
$1.6 Million
Anthony Spud Webb Bio/Wiki 2018
Anthony Spud Webb Net Worth $10 Million
Anthony "Spud" Webb is a retired American basketball player that has an estimated net worth of $10 million. Anthony "Spud" Webb began his career when he played for Wilmer-Hutchins High School basketball team. He attended Midland College, as he directed the team to the junior college national title in 1982. He was named NJCAA All American in 1983. Through the fourth round of NBA Draft in 1985, he was chosen by Detroit Pistons. However he eventually played for other teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic. He was likewise known for winning the NBA Slam Dunk Competition in 1986.


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A viral video showing news anchors at television stations around the country reading the same script about "fake stories" is drawing the nation's attention to the one company that owns them all: Sinclair Broadcast Group.
The video appeared over the weekend and was the talk of lawmakers, celebrities and news consumers who wondered why one message was so widespread across so many stations and what it means for local news nationwide. Many questions remain, but we've started looking into a few of them.
Here's what you should know.
What is Sinclair Broadcasting Group?
Sinclair Broadcast Group is a television broadcasting company which, according to its website, owns 193 television stations and 614 channels in 89 U.S. markets. It's one of the largest owners of TV stations in the country.
The company's map of stations shows its presence is nearly every part of the country except for northern and central states like Wyoming, North Dakota and Minnesota. Its affiliates include
The Associated Press describes its corporate leadership as leaning right.
Why is Sinclair in the news?
Deadspin shared a 98-second video on Saturday that showed dozens of news anchors reading the same script about "fake stories" and "the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing the country."
The video was widely circulated and caught the attention of news media professionals as well as celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel who shared the video to an even wider audience. On Monday, other news media outlets began reporting on the backlash, though outlets like CNN had reported on the promotional campaign as early as March 7.
Then, President Donald Trump jumped in, defending the company on Twitter.
What were some of the criticisms of the campaign?
CNN and others reported that some anchors from inside Sinclair stations were uncomfortable with the top down decision. Legendary news anchor Dan Rather called it "propaganda."
Some people even called for a boycott of Sinclair stations over concerns about the company's ability to spread corporate messaging via its news anchors so far and wide.
How is Sinclair responding?
On Monday the company explained the messages as promotional announcements for its local news coverage that were in response to "the public's distrust in the news generally." It also questioned the motivation behind criticism of the segments.
"It is ironic that we would be attacked for messages promoting our journalistic initiative for fair and objective reporting, and for specifically asking the public to hold our newsrooms accountable," a statement from Sinclair Broadcast Group said. "Our local stations keep our audiences' trust by staying focused on fact-based reporting and clearly identifying commentary."
The promos served no political agenda, the company also said.
What else do I need to know?
Sinclair's presence in local news is of interest especially because more people still get their news from local television stations than from any other source. And the company is looking to expand its influence into more markets with a $3.9 billion deal to buy
In Southern California, Tribune Media owns KSWB Fox 5 in San Diego and KTLA CW5 in Los Angeles.
What do you make of the video, the backlash over it and the defense of it?
Comment below or tweet us at @sdutIdeas.
Email: email@example.com
Twitter: @abbyhamblin


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Front Page
What's On
The 1985 TR Register Concours conducted at Albury is memorable (for a number of reasons )
It was during this week-end gathering of the faithful, with some 35 members present, that Brian Richards presented life membership to John Murn, Alan Mitchell and Shirley Pitman at the evening dinner venue ( members only being charged $ 5.00 per head).
Following a suggestion from Andrew Gibson, that the Register meet at Albury, it was Albury member David Fraser who then organised the whole week-end and arranged with Clive MacDonald to use his caravan sales centre, on the Hume Highway, as the Concours venue. The weather was ideal and the BRG TR3 of Roger Walker's took out the Laurie Cousin Trophy. Overall, the display of sidescreen TRs created a lot of interest and the event appeared as a local news item on the Sunday nights TV.
Another memorable part of the week-end was on the Sunday the group headed to the Hume Weir Circuit for a drivers testing day. Andrew Gibson in his TR3A took out the Trophy for the fastest TR.
(Again David and the Riverina Sportscar Association had organised everything).
Roger Walker (TR3) left talking with Lyall Copeland, Ian Nuttall red TR3A, Graeme White brg TR3A
Lyall Copeland extreme right.
L to R Graeme White BRG TR3A, Ian Nuttall (VIC) red TR3A, Roger Walker BRG TR3 & Lyall Copeland on the right


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Back in Texas Again
I arrived back in the Austin area on Father's Day last Sunday. When I left Portland the weather was just starting to get really nice. When I left Texas for Oregon in March the spring flowers were just starting to grow. Now it has rained 16 inches this month in central Texas and it feels like Oregon.


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Whoever said Britain lacked talented female MCs?
Some of the UK's top female rap artists gave awe-inspiring performances during Ladies Night at the Deal Real Legacy pop up shop in Carnaby Street on the 15th of May.
The music store which became popular in the early noughties as the home of British music and culture; welcoming everyone from Kanye to Amy Winehouse through its doors reopened in April for a 6 week stint in the heart of London.
Friday's event saw rap artists including Kate Tempest, Paigey Cakey and Lady Lykez who performed their single 'Cold' together for the first time. One of our favourite rap duo Poetic Pilgrimage also picked up the mic and gave a smashing performance.
Check out clips from the performances below.
Credits: Deal Real Legacy/Instagram
Oh, did we mention BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo also played a fantastic set on the night?
In addition to showcasing the cream of London's undiscovered and unrepresented talent, including emerging visual artists, musicians and fashion designers, the 6 week pop up store will also feature events curated by some of Britain's biggest artists with a host of free one-off in-store events, signings and open mic sessions. Expect definitive line-ups of some of the most established UK and international artists, alongside the freshest up and coming talent.
To find out about more events happening in Deal Real, head over to Dealreal.co.uk


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By Megan Lane
Boston, 1999:
As a PR intern at the New England Aquarium, I spent my days faxing press releases to the Aquarium's media list. Amid busy signals, failed transmissions and paper jams, the news finally gets out.
I follow up with phone calls and try to create relationships with that voice connection. Some coverage appears (in print) in local papers.
My friends and I have a phone tree of sorts, and use it to figure out plans for that evening.
On the way home, I fire up my Walkman and listen to the day's news on terrestrial radio.
Out on the town that night, there's no danger of embarrassing, drunken communications because I don't have a cell phone or ready access to an email account. With no digital camera, we have to wait for prints to come back from the photo shop, rather than immediately upload them.
Sound like the dark ages? In reality, it wasn't that long ago. Technologically speaking, it seems like a lifetime, and the way we conduct our personal lives—as well as our business lives as PR folks—has changed significantly.
Boston, 2009:
As an account manager at SHIFT Communications, I now spend my days pitching tailored stories to reporters with whom I've developed relationships. A thought can move from an idea to an interview to the Internet in a matter of hours, sometimes less. I'm not even sure where the fax machine is in our office.
My friends and I keep in touch on Facebook, and that's where the majority of our plans are made.
Throughout the day, I get my news from Twitter, CNN.com and Sirius satellite radio.
Out on the town, I have to forcibly disconnect from my BlackBerry to keep from reading emails, texts and breaking news because everything's at my fingertips. You can't be social if you're obsessed with your phone.
So what's the common thread here? Technology is completely different than it was 10 years ago, as is the way we consume media and execute our jobs as savvy, creative, informed PR pros. But the one thing that PR hinges upon—indeed, the one thing that business hinges upon—is relationships. And this is where I like to party like it's 1999, get on the phone and really make a connection with the person on the other end. Emails, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are all great tools for opening the door and getting a reporter's attention, but it's face-to-face or voice-to-voice contact that cements a relationship, and an opportunity. It's easy to overlook this basic tool in this age of instant high tech.
We're beyond the days of "smile and dial" at least when it comes to banging out a blanket pitch to an untargeted media list (well, we are, at least). But research, rehearsal, smiling and then dialing is the right way not only to pick up interest in your current story, but to find out what makes reporters tick as individuals. Know your reporter's work. Have your pitch down cold. Be friendly and confident. And if you get hung up on, try again next time. It really does pay off.
So when you're pitching, as tempting as it is to point and click, try this instead: Think. Breathe. Smile. Dial. Succeed. It still works.


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hi (aka I can't find a suitable STE header picture so here's a cute cat from Tumblr).
- Read: Mizushima Hiro in Kuroshitsuji live action
- Video: Disturbance (BoA)
- Thoughts: Fire (SHINee)
- Video: In Our Time (Tohoshinki)
READ: Mizushima Hiro in Kuroshitsuji live action
I'm excited about Mizushima Hiro's return to acting and, really, Sebastian is a role he was basically born to play. He has the bearing, the looks and the smoulder. I have no idea what they were thinking with his hair though, and I really really hope this isn't the final style.
I'm also very, very weirded out by the premise of the movie adaptation - 130 years later??? What? Was this an attempt to avoid a costly production budget? At the potential expense of removing half the appeal of the Kuroshitsuji series (aka. the shamelessly pseudo-Victorian setting with awesome clothes and props)?
Also, I'm having a hard time picturing who could play Ciel with the whole dark cynicism that characterises his personality.
I'm going to be approaching this movie with a sense of trepidation but hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Too much to expect?
VIDEO: Disturbance (BoA)
WHOA THIS IS SO BIZARRE; I didn't even know she was releasing something.
- I actually like the song. It's fast-tempo enough to not just be another angsty ballad. There are some really nice sounding melodies and it's just a really chill song overall. There's nothing that really stood out in the song for me, but it's pleasant on the ears and I might give it more listens in the future
- Taemin/BoA is so strange to me. I can't buy them as a couple - they looked like siblings. Their age difference is 6 years (?) at most, so it's not...that strange? But the fact that BoA is Taemin's sunbae by a gazillion years, coupled with Taemin's whole 'baby maknae' image makes me feel like she is much older than him, or just playing in a different league/dimension?
I'm going to guess SHINee's going to come back soon(I was right)
- In any case, I can't really buy Taemin's angsting/emote-ing. He looked really tired and dead in the eyes. A lot of people wished it had been Yunho and while I would prefer BoAho to Taemin/BoA, I don't really see Yunho as someone capable of angsting to the extent the MV required either...but they might have made a bit more sense as a 'couple'.
- Heh at SM tapping into the whole ~new interactive technology of Youtube~ by utilising alternate storyline endings. I'm not sure what it really added to the concept...other than the 'go back in time' ending was the mother of all awkward moments
THOUGHTS: Fire (SHINee)
I actually enjoyed their 1000年ずっとそばにいて release so I'll withhold most opinion until the song and MV comes out but...poor SHINee. That font alone should be enough to fire (snort) whoever's designing the album covers. Did they even try?
Personal opinion but I feel like SHINee should focus on Korea. SM isn't really sparing time to push them out into the J-Pop industry like they did with Tohoshinki (and the atmosphere has, again, changed in relation to K-Pop acts) and they don't exactly have the international mainstream appeal of SNSD to sustain any sort of intense popularity.
Either market the group as a niche, alternative group to all the general JE acts (and not have weird generic covers like this that basically could just be another JE group) or focus on regaining a foothold in Korea. They really, really need a strong comeback in Korea this year, I think. Especially since it's their 5 year anniversary (sob).
Poor guys. They have so much potential as performers. It's like seeing a valuable instrument just being left on the shelf, but SM chronically fails to take advantage of their groups' best talents so it's sad I'm not even surprised anymore.
VIDEO: In Our Time (Tohoshinki)
This is such a non-video and, as such, spawns very little opinion. I really feel like Tohoshinki's Japanese concept people have hit a huge creative block and they're not even bothering to try and escape from it
- There's virtually nothing that distinguishes this video from any of THSK's other ballad-y releases.
Same formula: HoMin standing in rooms looking nice in similar clothes, barely interacting and singing into air while things happen around them.
Same camera work (filter, random cool effects sprinkled in). This could have been Still Pt 2 or Winter Rose Pt 4.
Surely, surely there are better ways to market a duo .__.
- I'm sorry, but half the chorus consists of 'La la la la. La la la la'. As much as I think their voices have improved, this just screams lazy to me :/
- Obligatory 'grarrrrgh so much wasted potential, they are not getting any younger; they are capable of, and deserve so much more than what you're giving them grragrghghhhh'. But that's just becoming my modus operandi when thinking about any DBSK release nowadays
- On the plus side, Yunho's hair looks really good
- Is it 'international bad album/single cover competition month' at SM or something, because all three album covers for Time are atrocious. Literal, bland and the title font looks like a slightly more awkward version of Tone (also wtf at the random Victorian England styling for 'Past')


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Operational Risk Analysis
Operational risk analysis is a special application of the general simulation analysis of the R/V Platform. The definition of operational risk in regulatory (Basel II and III advanced approaches) sense is that operational risk is the loss over a 12 month time horizon due to occurrence of operational risk events.
The definition suggests a natural stochastic model of operational risk where losses to occur over the next 12 months are determined by the number of (different type) operational risk events and by the (uncertain) losses due to the different type of events. The aggregate losses are obtained by multiplying the distributions of number of events and loss intensities of those events by each other.
Time paths of operational risk losses are irrelevant due to the special definition of the regulatory concept. Only 12 month losses matter in determining the capital requirement. The R/V Platform generates operational risk loss distributions for both the individual operational risk types and the aggregate risk. These distributions can be further analysed by different statistics available in the system, e.g. by evaluating the losses on different confidence levels, which can be freely set by the user.


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Carpentries Governance
Tracy Teal is the Executive Director of The Carpentries, Erin Becker is the Associate Director, and Kari L. Jordan is the Senior Director of Equity and Assessment.
Governance of The Carpentries is undertaken by the Executive Council, to whom the Executive Director reports. The Executive Council replaces the former Steering Committees of Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry. The Council comprises nine members from the Software, Data, and Library Carpentry communities, four elected by the community, and five appointed from the Executive Council.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Executive Council
The Carpentries Executive Council is the highest leadership body of The Carpentries project. It is responsible for strategic and organizational planning, selecting the Executive Director and evaluating their performance, financial oversight, identifying revenue streams and resource development, approving and monitoring The Carpentries programs and services, and enhancing The Carpentries public image. Members of the council also serve as advocates and ambassadors for the organization, leveraging their networks to benefit the project's reputation and fundraising. The Executive Council executes these responsibilities through a combination of monthly Executive Council meetings and regular correspondence and collaboration via email and online platforms.
Executive Council Meeting Minutes
Executive Council Members
- Amy Hodge (elected in 2019, Chair)
- Kate Hertweck (appointed in 2018, Vice Chair)
- Mesfin Diro Chaka (appointed in 2019, Secretary)
- Raniere Silva (elected for 2018-2019 term, Treasurer)
- Elizabeth Wickes (elected in 2018, Code of Conduct committee liaison)
- Karen Cranston (appointed in 2018)
- Joslynn Lee (appointed in 2019)
- Lex Nederbragt (elected in 2018)
- Juan Steyn (appointed in 2019)
- Karen Cranston (appointed for 2018 term, Chair)
- Kate Hertweck (appointed for 2018 term)
- Amy Hodge (elected for 2018 term)
- Mateusz Kuzak (appointed for 2018 term, Communication Officer)
- Lex Nederbragt (elected for 2018-2019 term, Secretary)
- Raniere Silva (elected for 2018-2019 term)
- Ethan White (appointed for 2018 term)
- Elizabeth Wickes (elected for 2018 term)
Carpentries Policies
As well as our Code of Conduct, we have a number of policies that govern how we operate, including our Privacy Policy, our instructor 'no-show' policy and others.


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- In the world
- Croatia
The presence of ACCIONA in Croatia takes the form of a 30 MW wind farm operational since 2013. Jelinak, equipped with 20 wind turbines of ACCIONA Windpower technology, was the first wind farm installed in the country by a Spanish developer.
Located in the region of Split-Dalmatia, Jelinak was inaugurated on October 6th 2013 by Croatian President, Ivo Josipović. It consists of twenty AW1500 wind turbines of ACCIONA Windpower technology representing a total capacity of 30 MW, able to generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of around 30,000 Croatian homes per year. ACCIONA was the first Spanish wind power developer to open a wind farm in the country.


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This bikini isnt called Classic for nothing. Style is something that cant be faked but that once it has been achieved never ages and never becomes irrelevant. Not only do the underwiring moulding and ruche effect of the cups and the medium hip and high leg make this a practical wearable piece of swimwear but also the all-over black of the design and elegance of the cut make it stylistically the little black dress of swimwear.
Delivery Status: UK 1-3 Days


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PODCAST: UAE in a minute for September 10, 2017
Making today's headlines: the first day of school, Dr Anwar Gargash, eating disorders and Expo 2020
Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said the short-lived optimism after Emir of Qatar's telephone call to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince was crushed by Doha's "naive" reaction in the media.
> UAE's Gargash: Qatar's 'naive' efforts targeting Riyadh, Abu Dhabi won't work
Public school pupils will be starting a new curriculum this year with substantial portions being taught in English.
> More emphasis on science and English in UAE government schools shake-up
A new UAE study has found that one out of three university students is at risk of developing an eating disorder while almost one in two pupils is concerned about their body shape.
> story coming soon
Dubai will unveil the Expo 2020's legacy development at Cityscape Global this week.
> Dubai to reveal Expo District 2020 at Cityscape
Updated: September 10, 2017 11:54 AM


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4 Habits That Will Help You Avoid A Root Canal!
At Matthew J. Cavendish, DDS, PLLC in Phoenix, AZ, root canals aren't anything to fear at all. We can offer effective, safe numbing methods and options in sedation to help you relax during your virtually painless treatment.
But we know you'd like to avoid a root canal if you could. We want the same for you!
That's why we're giving you some ways to do that in today's blog!
Why You Might Need a Root Canal at Some Point
Probably the most feared dental procedure of all humankind, a root canal is actually a lifesaver in the world of restorative dentistry.
That's because it's a procedure that cleans potentially dangerous bacterial infection out from the ...


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This program is designed to help guide players of all abilities take their games to the next level. Learning to improve your game involves many different skill sets. The program includes two personal online assessments and four one hour interactive webinars. You may attend live and/or listen to the recorded sessions as often as you need.
This class will address three of these vital skills:
Who are you? How do you learn? What mental golf skills do you possess?
Components Include:
Define Your Game
The Pre-Game
The Game Plan
The Physical Game
The Mental Game
The Emotional Game
Play Your Game
Post Game
Class note highlights in PDF form.
Start your personal player development path now.
Class dates:
Monday, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Jan. 22, and Jan. 29, 2018 8:30-9:30 PM Eastern Time Zone


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The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog.
Written by Adam Gidwitz and Illuminated by Hatem Aly.
A Very Brief Summary
On a dark and stormy night, in 1242, patrons in a small French tavern share their accounts of the three magical children and their dog, all of which are wanted by King Louis the IX of France. What unfolds is a tale of courage, prejudice and unlikely friendship.
And that is only the beginning.
A few thoughts about the book
In short, this may be one of the single best pieces of children's literature I have ever read. It is highly entertaining, well paced, extremely well written, and takes on some of the biggest and toughest social issues known to mankind, without ever feeling pontific or morally imposing. It seamlessly weaves elements of history, religion, magic, pain, wonder, humor and forgiveness without becoming preachy, doctrinal, judgmental, or, if you can believe it, overly serious.
All of this would be a tall order for even the longest and most complicated adult books ever written let alone a children's book. Indeed, the arguments alone discussing whether or not such a thing could even be done, let alone how to do so, could fill a Talmudic worthy number of volumes. And yet Gidwitz manages to tell his tale in such a way, that not only does he do all of this, he makes it appear effortless and natural.
As in life, bad things happen to good people, and often times justice seems more of a fantasy than a reality. But like a good teacher, the author never once tells the reader what to think or how to feel. He simply allows the story to unfold, and then like the children in his story, he allows the readers to make up their own mind about what they are hearing and experiencing by presenting The Inquisitor's Tale as a collection of stories and accounts gathered by the Inquisitor searching for the children and hoping to know more about them. By employing this approach, the reader is never exposed to anyone person's slant on the story or its facts for very long. Likewise, it allows the reader, on several occasions, to hear about the same incident from multiple interpretations, all of which are at least partially right and partially wrong.
Throughout the first half of the book, I found myself laughing out loud because it was so very funny. In fact I would go so far as to say that it read very much like a Monty Python film, if The Pythons had ever attempted to make a children's film. A little bit of well placed farcical humor, often helped not only to highlight the dangers that can be spawned by ignorance, fear, and superstition, but also made it less painful to read about, especially as the children get to know and trust one another.
The second half of the story, while still amusing in some parts is much more sobering. Though to the author's credit, he never allows his narrative to become judgmental of those we the readers may come to see as villains, by always at least trying to offer the possibility, that these individuals may actually believe that what they are doing is right when viewed from a certain perspective. I found this to be one of the most profound aspects of the book, especially because it does not condone nor excuse their actions, it simply provides the reader with a lens with which to understand the motivation of those villains.
I apologize for the vagueness, but I do not wish to reveal the entire plot line if you have not had the pleasure of reading this book yet. Please let it be suffice to say for the moment, that there are a few truly heartbreaking moments depicted in this book that because of the author's dedication to depicting the multiplicity aspect of reality he was able to infuse those moments with as much hope as he does pain.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to focus on one of the most beautiful aspects of, and in fact, what first drew me to it in the first place; this book is illuminated, just as many of the books of the Middle Ages would have been. I love, that the author takes the time to explain to the reader at the beginning of the book, before he even begins to tell his story, the nature of illumination in this book and in books from the period the story takes place. But I think what I love even more than his explanation, is the fact that he took the time to point out that because the author and the illuminator are different people they both have "unique interpretations of the story, and of the meaning behind it."
However, like the story, the illuminations are beautiful, inspired by history and personal experience, quirky, child like in their purity, delicate and profound, often at the same time, and allow the reader to make their own decisions about their tone and meaning.
It has been a very long time since I read a book intended for young readers that made me laugh out loud as hard as this book, or made me cry as much. In truth I am not sure I ever have, and question whether I ever will again. I urge you to read it, not only because it is utterly unique, beautifully written and illuminated, and thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking, but also because it so deftly highlights how easily children are capable of moving beyond the world's all to often employed divisions of of US and THEM, and offers a ray of hope in a world that sometimes feels, as it has throughout the human experience, as if it has gone completely mad.
Warning! The following section contains spoilers.
Locations Mentioned in the Story.
The Inquisitor's Tale takes place France, during the year 1242. Although many of the people and places in the story are real, some have been altered for narrative purposes, and others are completely fictitious. Below is a list of the locations mentioned within the narrative of the story. Whenever possible I have provided links to the official websites for those locations.
- Holy Cross-Roads Inn is described as being a day's walk north of Paris and is where we first meet the inquisitor and begin to hear the tale of the three children. My best guess, given that there are not many surviving, let alone operating medieval taverns still in operation today, is that the Holly Cross-Roads Inn is probably an amalgam of many taverns and inns the author read about during his six years of extensive research.
- Jeanne's village is where we first meet Jeanne, the young peasant girl who is very roughly modeled after Joan of Arc (right down to her fits and prophetic visions). My guess is that this too is an amalgam of researched information and probably not one specific Medieval French village.
- The Holy Grove where Gwenforte, Jeanne's sainted dog was buried, and later arose from the dead. This particular location has the unique characteristic of being both entirely fictional, and quite real. This because there was, an actual (folk venerated) Sainted dog, in 13th century in France, at whose burial site trees were planted and miracles were reported. However, unlike our Saint Gweneforte in the story, this dogs name was Guinefort, was a male and belonged to a lord living in a castle near Lyon (not a peasant girl and her family in a village). I was not able to locate the grave's exact location, but I imagine it would not be hard to find should one have the opportunity to visit Lyon.
- Monastery Saint-Martin is William's home in the story, or at least it is where he lives. As the son of a Crusading Knight, and a Saracen woman who is not his wife, William has been left in the hands of the monastery to be raised to be a monk. However due to his colossal strength, huge size, and dark skin he does not blend in as easily and some of the monks are quite cruel to him. While William is fictitious (but has roots in an actual historic figure), the monastery itself is real. Monastery Saint-Martin was was built in 1009 in the South of France near the Spanish border. Unlike at its inception, today, the monastery has its own website with plenty of photographs (including a virtual tour) and loads information about its history. https://www.stmartinducanigou.org
- The Forest of Malesherbes – In the story the forest of Malesherbes is populated with fiends that accost (or at least attempt to accost) William. In reality, it is an area in the French country side that plays host to a local legend about Guilhem, a man whom committed himself to the life of a monk to atone for his violent life, but is so loud and large that the abbot tries to dispose of him by sending him on a dangerous errand through this stretch of forest known for harboring murderous brigands. It is this man, who inspired William's character.
- A Jewish village, Nogent-sur-Oise was Jacob's home until a few misguided young men burned it to the ground. While Nogent-sur-Oise, was and continues to be a civil township in France, I believe that the village, much like Jacob himself, is a fictitious amalgam of what we can glean from historic documentation. However, unlike Jacob, the small village is without the power to heal neither itself nor the those unfortunate enough to perish in the fire.
- The Oise River runs, in the book as it does in reality, from its source in Belgium into France.
- The Hall of Lord Bertulf is where the children are taken by the knights and are charged with slaying the dragon that has been terrorizing the area. While Lord Bertulf was appears to have been a real person, I was unable to find anything about his residency, other than that it may have been burned down…if I in fact was reading about the correct Lord Bertulf, so the jury is still out on this one.
- Flanders is the area in the story being terrorized by the dragon. This area of France was once a part of Belgium. As such, the traditional language there is French Flemish (a sub dialect of the Dutch language), which would account for Lord Bertrulf's unusual accent. However, the actual dragon in this story has been drawn from legend, and may (or may not) have actually existed.
- Monastery Saint-Dennis is described in the book as "the first and most holy of the new wave of monumental churches. The building that all the great cathedrals – Notre Dame, Chartres, Rouen – are modeled after." It is here that William is instructed to deliver the books he carries from his own Monastery to the abbot here. In fact, the Monastery Saint-Denis, now a Cathedral, was built in 1144, and was the first example of true Gothic Architecture. You can see many photos of the cathedral and read about its history at: http://www.saint-denis-basilique.fr/en/ .
- Saint-Dennis, the town surrounding the great Church, and the home of the great rabbi Yehuda, is of course, like the church it is named for, an actual place that is now a northern suburb of Paris.
- Grandmontine Abbey is where the children meet the King, and just as it is described in the story, was known for being one of the most austere during the Middle Ages. The monks who lived there were characterized mostly for being hermits, and for the keen interest in acquiring religious relics, such as the one mentioned in the story. However, I was unable to determine whether or not King Loius IX of France ever stayed there, let alone if he did so in disguise.
- Notre Dame, which is arguably one of the most iconic and easily identified places of worship in the world was only briefly mentioned in the story as a point of interest as the children drive past in in a carriage. However, you can spend as much time as you like gazing at, and reading about it, on their website: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/ .
- The Palace of Louis IX, known as the Palais de la Cité, was the residence of all the French kings for nearly 800 years (6th until 14th century CE).
- Mount-Saint-Michel, where the final chapters of the story unfold, is a famous and heavily fortified abbey housed on an island that is as picturesque as its tides are deadly. http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en


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The LEJ-640 offers both flatbed and roll-fed printing in a single device. Printing CMYK, White and Clear Coat inks on virtually any substrate up to a half-inch thick, the LEJ is capable of producing a massive range of large-format graphics. Versatility is what sets the LEJ-640 UV inkjet apart. With its combined roll-fed and rigid sheet capabilities, it allows users to print on a vast array of sign, display, décor and art materials, such as foam board, banner film, fabric, corrugated cardboard vinyl, artist canvas, SBS board, synthetic papers and more!
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The AUGB General Council held its first meeting of the year in Nottingham on 31 January.
Among the items discussed were AUGB finances and structure, sale of property in Cheltenham, Holodomor, website, proposals of European Congress of Ukrainians, the National Museum of Ukraine and the British Ukrainian Society, situations regarding AUGB Branches in Manchester, Nottingham, Carlisle, London, Luton, Edinburgh, the former Ukrainian Students Home and the Ukrainian Chapel in Lockerbie, Branch AGMs and the 64 AUGB AGM - which is due to take place on 30 May in Stockport (subject to availability).
A circular will be sent out shortly to Branches relating specifically to some of the issues mentioned above.