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Traditionally when police talk about breaching tools they are in the context of SWAT Teams. In deed, many breaching tools require specialized training to understand the complexities of the tool, or the specialized methods that must be used to ensure a successful breach. Tragic events, such as the spree killer at Virginia Tech, have illuminated the need for patrol officers to have a means to defeat locked or barricaded entry points.
Today's patrol officer is assigned more equipment and technical gear than the early James Bond, so arbitrarily suggesting even more equipment is not going to bode well for many officers. So why would I even suggest adding more to that big mess?
Although, some large agencies have the luxury of full-time SWAT Teams, most of us work at agencies where the first officers to arrive on a critical incident will be Patrol. They will likely be the ones that will resolve the critical incident. Those officers have to be trained and equipped to respond and neutralize that threat immediately.
At Virginia Tech the murderer used chains and locks to barricade doors so he would have additional time to carry out his evil. Indeed, one of the first responding officers was confronted with this problem and resorted to shooting the lock – not the best method, but the only solution the officer could think of at that time. Most schools have lock-down procedures in the event of a threat, but many also keep the majority of their doors locked during the school day as an added precaution.
If officers respond to a similar scene, are they going to succeed if they're stuck at the door? Anymore, most windows on schools or public buildings do not open, they simply allow natural light in. Breaking out windows and attempting entry or rescue is a very dangerous venture, and likely will not be accomplished with a baton. Not to mention the debilitating injuries that glass can inflict.
SWAT Teams breaching windows have officers wearing kevlar gloves and sleeves to protect from broken or falling glass. I'm pretty confident most patrol officers don't have access to such protection.
Many SWAT Teams have a variety of breaching tools including:
- Battering rams
- Halligan Tools (H-Tools) for prying outward opening doors
- Window rake and breaks
- Pry Bars
- Explosive Breaching materials in some cases
- Breaching shotgun rounds
- 37mm or 40mm breaching rounds
- Bolt Cutters
- Sledge Hammers
- even using Armored Response Vehicles!
Trying to equip every patrol car, and train every patrol officer in the proper use and techniques for all these breaching tools is not reasonable or realistic. The expense of many of these items, and the technical nature of their use, is well beyond most agencies budgets and most officers ability to remember. I believe that most of these tools need to stay right where they are – SWAT Teams.
However, I do believe that there is a breaching tool that every patrol vehicle should be equipped with – the sledge hammer. The hammer has been described as the "universal tool", and for good reason. With a good sledge hammer, most obstacles can be broken to allow access for the officers. Windows can be breached somewhat safer due to the extension of the sledgehammer's handle.A 10 pound sledgehammer like this Truper brand sledge can be an excellent "all purpose" entry tool for a patrol officer. This one has a 36″ fiberglass handle with rubber grips. It is available through Amazon.
I am in no way advocating that a sledgehammer replace a long gun. I have written before on the critical need of a long gun in the successful conclusion to a deadly force situation. With a good sling (required in my opinion) the officer can have the long gun slung, and have their strong hand on the grip ready to fire the long gun. The officer can carry the sledgehammer in their support hand, or have a second officer designated to carry if one is available. Officers can quickly drop the sledgehammer and bring the long gun to bear when needed.
A great benefit of the sledgehammer is that almost everyone has a basic understanding of how to use hammers. A sledge is heavier, and 2-handed, but training for its successful use should require a minimum effort – aim, swing, hit. The ability to remember how to use a sledgehammer should also keep any remedial training to a bare minimum. A huge bonus to budget-strapped agencies is that a decent 10-pound sledgehammer can be purchased for around $30.00. Compare that to most battering rams that will run anywhere from $300-500.
Most interior residential and many commercial doors open inward. Simply hammering the door near the locking mechanism can defeat a locked door. Though it may take repeated hits, the officer is much more likely to gain access then by kicking the door, especially heavier commercial doors that are often required to be fire rated. Another option is hitting the door in the center to literally breaking the door down.
If the door happens to open outward, the door can still be defeated by breaking the handle and pounding the locking mechanism until it breaks. It will take longer, but its a better option than nothing. If the 10-pound sledge is too much, there are 8-pound sledgehammers as well.
Here is a final consideration. To successfully confront an active shooter, or other critical incident, officers need to have these four components:
- A confident understanding of the Priority of Life. (Ed. note: Click here for more on the Priority of Life.)I've written about the Priority of Life before so I won't repeat it here, but that concept is THE guiding principal in any critical incident.
- Basic training on response methods and techniques for active shooters (preferably with an emphasis on solo or small element techniques).
- The necessary equipment to defeat the threat – long guns, extra ammo, and in my opinion a good breaching tool (sledgehammer).
- A department policy or recognized procedure that allows officers to think for themselves and make immediate decisions with what they are faced without obtaining direct supervision's approval. If an officer can respond to someone shooting at them on a car stop, than there is no reason they should not be able to make those same decisions while aggressing a shooter in a school, mall, or wherever.
With these four foundations in place, any patrol officer can be prepared to meet the next critical incident and come out successful.


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Swiss finalizes order for three 777-300ERs
Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have finalized an order for three additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes, valued at $990 million at current list prices. This order, previously attributed to an unidentified customer, follows SWISS' 2013 order for six 777-300ERs, and will form the backbone of the Swiss flag-carrier's long-haul fleet renewal.
"I am delighted that with the formal signing of the contract, SWISS has set a further milestone in its long-haul fleet renewal," said Harry Hohmeister, CEO of SWISS.
"SWISS' latest order for additional airplanes is a testament to the unrivaled economics of the 777-300ER as the carrier continues to renew its long-haul fleet," said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777-300ER is the perfect platform for SWISS to showcase its exceptional customer offering and remain at the forefront of international travel."
SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group, serving 106 destinations in 49 countries from the Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva and Basel, carrying over 16 million passengers a year with a fleet of 95 airplanes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Posts tagged 'solution'
- Don't fall for the Julian Calendar trip up on November 23rd, 2014
- How To Break Down Brick Walls in Family History on June 5th, 2014
- Findmypast's customers uproar at new site on April 13th, 2014
- Want To Know What Your Ancestor's Town Looked Like? on October 30th, 2013
- The Idle Poor and the Deserving on June 23rd, 2013
- Ripping Yarn for Family historians! on December 9th, 2012
- More Data Released by TheGenealogist.co.uk on April 3rd, 2011
- Find Your Ancestors and Build Your Family Tree The Right Way on December 16th, 2010
- Who Else Needs FREE Backlinks? on June 16th, 2010


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An Education director Lone Scherfig will be following up her best picture nominee with the romantic comedy One Day, and she's about to snag Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as the film's two main stars. In a conversation with Comingsoon, producer Nina Jacobson spilled the beans. Here's exactly what she had to say:
"That is supposed to go this summer in London with Lone Scherfig directing and Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess," she said, adding that the deals aren't closed but that the two stars are both attached. "Their deals are being negotiated right now."
The movie itself will be about Dexter and Emma, two friends who meet during their graduation in 1988 and reunite for one day every year for the next 20. I'm usually not much for rom-coms, but if this one has even an ounce of the charm of An Education, I'm in. And just in case you need any further proof this could be really good, it's based on the novel by David Nicholls, who wrote both the book and screenplay for the rather criminally underrated Starter for Ten, starring James McAvoy and Rebecca Hall.


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How well is your website performing in terms of bringing in new leads, boosting sales, and helping your business grow? If it's not having as much of an impact as you would like, it's time to look at your inbound marketing. Making improvements in this area can have a dramatic effect on how well your website serves your business needs.
What Is Inbound Marketing?
It's easiest to define inbound marketing by contrasting it with outbound marketing. Let's say you want to get an up-close look at some birds. If you go hunting for birds with a shotgun, that's outbound marketing. It's a scattershot approach and may scare off far more birds than it takes down. Inbound marketing is like putting a bird feeder in your front yard and letting the birds come to you. Cold calling, email blasts, and paid ads are all examples of outbound marketing while blogging, social media engagement, and content marketing in general are inbound. Let's look at what happens with your website when inbound marketing is on target.
Benefit #1: More Inbound Traffic from Organic Searches
Inbound marketing and SEO are not mutually exclusive concepts. In fact, they can and should work hand in hand. Whether you are publishing blog posts, podcasts, infographics, white papers, or videos on your site, some of the most effective inbound marketing content is designed around targeted keywords. Prospective buyers may feel like they have stumbled across this content by accident while searching for an answer to a specific question or problem. However, behind the scenes this content has been carefully optimized to rank well for your target audience. For example, a consulting company in the workplace safety and health sector might post an informational report with the keyword "cost of forklift accidents". It's a safe bet that some of the people searching for info on this topic are doing so because their company has experienced a recent safety incident—and these readers would make excellent prospects.
Benefit #2: Higher Brand Awareness and Inbound Links
While outbound marketing is often used to build brand awareness, inbound marketing also plays an important role in this area. Creating highly sharable content (even when it's not specifically focused on your products or services) boosts exposure for your brand and can increase the number of reputable sites and platforms that link back to your site. Guest blogging and writing educational content for industry publications can provide valuable inbound links to your website from highly relevant sources. But social media is often the easiest place to start in terms of building brand awareness. Now that search engines are taking "social signals" such as likes, comments, and shares into account in terms of ranking, the more engagement you can inspire, the better.
Benefit #3: Increased Conversions on Your Site
This is the most critical metric for any business website. It's far more important than the number of visitors you receive. If you offer free educational resources on your site, visitors stay longer. That's great for reducing your bounce rate (another factor search engines weigh in determining the relevance of your site). But inbound marketing should do more than that. Most B2B websites convert only a tiny percentage of visitors into leads. Your inbound marketing should establish trust so that it attracts visitors who are ready to make a next step—even if it's a small one. Consider distributing an educational blog post or podcast that links back to a landing page where visitors can download a helpful white paper, report, or checklist in exchange for their email address. That's a fresh lead your marketing and sales people can cultivate, and a perfect example of how your website can deliver value for your business.
Benefit #4: Continuous Improvement for Your Site
What about performance over the long term? In some ways, a higher volume of traffic can be beneficial even if people aren't doing what you want when they are on the site right now. Because at least you will have enough data to analyze. Inbound marketing gives you many streams of inbound traffic to mine for insights, determining what works and doesn't work on your website. Be sure to use a customized link for each piece of inbound content (free link shortening services like bit.ly can help). That way, you don't just see an increase in hits and wonder where they are coming from. Once these visitors are on your site, you can also see how they interact with various pages and identify areas for improvement in the text, layout, page load times, and more.
Are you ready to improve your inbound marketing and enjoy better performance on your website? Contact the team at Web Revelation for a consultation today.


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Fear of becoming a racial minority makes white Americans more conservative: study
Via: Raw Story
Two researchers from the Department of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University demonstrated that the more white Americans know about the changing demographics of the United States, the more likely they are to endorse conservative policy positions.
Maureen Craig and Jennifer Richeson conducted three studies in which white Americans were presented with information about the racial demographic shifts that have led the U.S. Census Bureau to project that "racial minority groups will make up a majority of the U.S. national population in 2042 (OMG, only 28 years away!), effectively creating a so-called 'majority-minority' nation."
In the first study, self-identifying political independents were randomly asked to learn about the majority-minority racial shift in California or about how the number of Hispanics in the United States is now roughly equal to the number of African-Americans. They were then asked questions about their political party leanings and ideology.
Read more, HERE:
It won't take until 2o42 for the Republican Party, whose current core is 'Angry, Old, White Men' for the train wreck.
"Quote of the Day"
AND, if you have a 'colored' President, they'll do what ever they can to hurt the government/nation.
Jackson: Trump birth talk is race "code"
Via: Ben Smith @ Politico
Rev. Jesse Jackson told POLITICO today that the birther movement is part of a larger pattern of rollbacks against civil rights and and an attack on the legitimacy of the nation's first African-American president — reserving special ire for developer Donald Trump and his renewed interest in the conspiracy theory.
"Any discussion of his birthplace is a code word," said Jackson. "It calls upon ancient racial fears."
"Trump has trumpeted this cause. For him to go down this low is a bit surprising," Jackson said, making explicit what many black leaders have suggested. "He is now tapping into code-word fears that go far beyond a rational discourse."
Jackson also pointed to a broader pattern of hostility towards civil rights — pointing to a number of events, including the battle over public sector unions, a transportation policy that he says disadvantages poor minority city dwellers, and a renewed interest in policies like voter ID.
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There are so many apps these days that if you printed out their icons and stacked them up, they'd reach Mars. Probably. Regardless, there are far too many to sift through yourself, and so chances are you don't bother. An awful lot of people download a handful of social media and telly apps and call it a day.
That's a huge pity because the very best apps for iPhone and iPad are fantastic. Moreover, they let you do more with your device. And if you've ever awoken from a marathon Facebook or Twitter session to realise with a start it's half-past Sunday, that should be a compelling reason to dig deeper into the App Store.
Here, then, are what we consider the ten very best apps for Apple devices. Each of them can transform your metal and glass sidekick into something to make the most of your time – rather than just eating into it.
Source link


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Gemini Vapors
An introduction to Gemini Vapors E liquid
Who are they?
They are few experienced vaper who handcraft their own e juice.
Where they From?
USA, west coast, Los Angeles
What is the PG:VG ratio?
This is the secrete, we don't even know it yet.
What Strength they have?
0mg, 6mg 12mg (This is the fashion is US now, low nicotine levels)
What Flavor we recommend?
Well, we haven't try them all yet, but enter the dragon is my favorite now!


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The people of Asheville love their town, but they are not alone. The city continues to win quality-of-life awards. Asheville has again risen to the top of AmericanStyle magazine's Top 25 Small City Arts Destinations. Frommers named Asheville as one of the "Best Places to Go" highlighting the city's food and drink scene and its artsy vibe. Other groups applaud Asheville for its thriving breweries, outdoor lifestyle and location to view fall foliage.
Spend any amount of time in Asheville, NC, and you will undoubtedly feel the connection and agree with the accolades. In addition to the must-see nature of Asheville, there is also a must-taste side. The area is a thriving farm-to-table community with over 200 independent restaurants, 20+ farmers' markets and 10 local breweries. (Try the Pack Square cheese from Looking Glass Creamery if you can get it. Fabulous!)
FoodtopianSociety.com is a resource for those looking to tour Asheville with their taste buds, offering recipes, news and profiles of local chefs, farmers and brewers.
The size of Asheville is one of its benefits, too. The downtown area, though a little bit hilly here and there, truly is a walkable pleasure. Restaurants of many kinds sit side by side or within a block or two of one another, from the beautifully restored Grove Arcade, around Market Street and charming cobblestoned Wall Street, to the newly envisioned Pack Square Park, featuring an interactive fountain, amphitheatre and lush green space.
In one of the Carolinas' livelier daytime and nighttime downtowns, the restaurants and pubs are interspersed with a variety of shopping options, from antique and art galleries to vintage clothing boutiques, custom-made jewelry and even specialty stores dedicated to items such as beer or beads.
Like the town, the offerings are diverse, and they are not limited to downtown alone. Biltmore Village to the south, the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa to the north, the mall on Tunnel Road and the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway (to the east), provide interesting alternatives as well.
Whether a resident or a visitor, it's hard to resist a stop at some of the area's attractions. From the city's oldest-standing home (Smith-McDowell House, circa 1840) to the nation's largest private home (Biltmore House, completed in 1895), touring should also include a stop at historic Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (circa early 1900s) and novelist Thomas Wolfe's boyhood home next to the Renaissance Hotel.
A newer hotel is the Grand Bohemian, located across the street from the entrance to Biltmore. It offers great accommodations and is filled with an impressive collection of art, including a number of pieces from owner Richard Kessler's private collection. Have a drink at the appealing bar (their wine cellar is superb), and treat yourself to Chef Adam Hayes' creative cuisine that features the freshest, chef-chosen farm-to-table ingredients.
For museums of other kinds, downtown also offers the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, the YMI Cultural Center and the Southern Appalachian Radio Museum. Kids will get a kick – and a lesson – out of The Health Adventure or the WNC Nature Center. You might even want to take in a haunted ghost tour or discover downtown aboard a Segway with Moving Sidewalk Tours.
It is home to some of the finest hotels in North Carolina. In fact, Conde Nast Traveler named Inn on Biltmore Estate as one of "The World's Best Places to Stay." The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is consistently placed at the top of many rankings. The Spa at The Grove Park Inn was recently named one of the world's best by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
Asheville is the home of more than 50 golf courses, including one at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. It's the only gated golf course community in Asheville and features a spectacular golf course that was christened by Kevin Costner and Jack Nicklaus at its grand opening.
In addition to golf, Asheville includes many activities for sports and nature lovers alike – hot air ballooning, snow skiing, hundreds of hiking trails and whitewater rafting, to name a few. And, Asheville has spirit, along with arts, entertainment, food, wine, history and the fresh, crisp air only available in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Asheville's leaders have preserved the small-town charm of the city that has been present for more than 200 years. It is that same small-town charm that draws many people to Asheville, first to visit, and then to live. Make your first stop the Asheville Visitor Center for maps, relocation information, tours and attraction tickets and insider tips.
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About us
King and Queen Cantina brings a Latin flavor to San Diego's Little Italy. Our colorful skull décor makes for a Dia de Los Muertos theme all year long. Prepare to "fiesta like there's no mañana" while you pull up a leather bar stool to the natural wood downstairs bar accessorized with flat screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. Then, strut across the checkered tile to upstairs where you're transported to mood lighting and an essentially outdoor bar. Take in the San Diego skyline as you sip hand-crafted cocktails at this modern Mexican cantina.
In Mexico, 'cantinas' are next level; you dress in your best, and you prepare to spend a pretty penny. But creative owner and founder Jorge Cueva wanted to bring this concept to the US with a twist. The award-winning restaurateur created an atmosphere that was like a party, out of the box, but more casual—high-tempo music booming in the background, glasses clinking, and has energy but still allows for intimacy.
Come for the atmosphere, but stay for the food. Cueva brought his popular menu from Orange County's hotspot Tempo Urban Kitchen but added ten new specialty dishes for your palate to try. He pulls from roughly seven foodie categories to make one eclectic, infused menu. All of your favorite Latin dishes combined with inspiration from around the world—whatever you're craving we have it. Join us for happy hour, weekend brunch or Taco Tuesday for a dining experience like you've never experienced before!


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A new approach in case design: The revolutionary REV200 ATX midi tower delivers a breathtakingly...more
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Minimalistic Design – Abundant Possibilities. The ELBRUS 2 gaming chair combines clear contours...more


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High Intensity Interval Training. AKA HIIT
What is it? Why should you do it?
I've got a 30 day challenge that will change your body!
What is HIIT?
High Intensity Interval Training is repeated short intervals of high-intensity exercise with periods of lower intensity intervals of active recovery.
Basically, you work really hard for a short period of time and then rest briefly and repeat. The intervals can vary.
My HIIT or Be Fit workouts are 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. You can do the same exercise the entire time for 8 rounds. I choose to do 2 different exercises back to back to void boredom.
In my videos, I provide modifications for beginners to advanced exercisers. The point is to challenge yourself for just a few minutes each day.
Benefits of HIIT
The biggest reason people are doing HIIT is that you can burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time.
Another big one is that several studies have shown that HIIT can increase your metabolic rate for hours after exercise.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, HIIT training has been shown to improve:
• aerobic and anaerobic fitness
• blood pressure
• cardiovascular health
• insulin sensitivity (which helps the exercising
muscles more readily use glucose for fuel to
make energy)
• cholesterol profiles
• abdominal fat and body weight while
maintaining muscle mass
The reason it has become so popular is that people are busy. With HIIT, you can work really hard in a short amount of time and get results.
How Often Should you Do HIIT?
Well, that depends on what you are doing and the duration of your workouts. If you are doing 20 or more minute hard core HIIT sessions then 2-3 times per week is recommended.
But I am asking you to join me for just 4-8 minutes almost every day for a month.
Are you in?
You can print the calendar HERE
But you'll need to follow me on Facebook or YouTube to get the workouts!
Live Well
Short Link:


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Ahead of their gig at IGigs presents @ The Highland Games in July, Mark Allison of Annakii chats to IGigs.
How did you guys come to play together?
Myself and Dave have played in bands together for the last 10 years. I have Known Anna since she was 2 days old. When she was 18 I heard her singing and knew she had something then 5 years later we all found ourselves at a point where we were free to work with each other.
Whilst genres can be fairly nondescript, what is the type of music that you aspire to create?
More acts than particular songs hold an influence. From a songwriting aspect, bands like the Killers and The Script creep in, each of us has our set of artists that we love that brings something to the sound from the Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Pink, Suzi Quatro, Rolling Stones and a host of 70s and 80s rock bands.
Which of you songs do you think best represents you?
At the moment we have two. 'A Beautiful Lie' which has been developing over a few years which Anna has put her stamp on it and has plenty hooks, and one of my latest tracks 'Sunshine' which again, Anna has taken and put her personality all over it. We start and finish our set with these two songs.
What would be the soundtrack for your act?
A soundtrack that would summarise us would be 'So What' by Pink, 6 degrees of Separation by the Script, When We Were Young by the Killers, Learn to Fly by The Foo Fighters and Highway to Hell by AC/DC
What are the ambitions for your band?
We take it a day at a time and an audience at a time but the plan is to head off to Copenhagen next year to record our first album with a friend and very talented Danish producer Soren Andersen
IGigs Presents is championing new and exciting music on the local scene, which Highland based new acts do you recommend checking out?
Having been out of the local scene for a while, not sure of all of them but Devils Queen are pretty tight Heavy Metal act, Bloodlines have an aggression thats almost unexplained and Sarah Williamson has that quirkiness to her songs.
How would you encourage folk to come and hear you for the first time?
If you like a bit of loud guitar fronted with a girl with attitude and then walk away singing the songs without realising it, thats us :)
IGigs Presents @ The Inverness Highland Games is on the 21st of July, 2018 6pm -10pm. Other gigs can be found on their Facebook page.
We have set up an event page so if you're coming let us know.
Details on the Highland Games can be found at here


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I have started reading the above book a few days ago and it is going well. I thought that I could get away with not having to use the dictionary (blame my laziness and eagerness to complete reading it) if I could try my best to get the meaning of some words from the context in which they are found but no luck. I have no idea why I even started with a complaint!
I think I like it but I am not sure because the story jumps from one scene to another in the past unexpectedly that it takes me some time to gather my bearings. I guess it is because that I am too immersed in it or the more logical fact is that I am kinda having trouble following the story. Don't worry, I am not planning to shut it in the middle because I need the satisfaction of knowing that I will have read at least one book this year by the end of next week.
I just do not understand why the protagonist is even depressed! What? Her life? When exactly did her depression start? In New York? or in Boston after her trip to New York? What events, if any, instigated her descent into depression? What is the cause? So many questions!! I think I am going to read this book again sometime in the future, maybe not too soon. It irritates me.
Also, it is getting hard to enjoy reading books for I am getting stuck at observing the structure of the sentences, words used, the narrative tense, narration, point of view, etc to learn a thing or two about writing. It feels like I am just now learning to pay attention to details that I never even new existed before my love for writing came about. You know, just like an artist (regardless of their level of knowledge) that looks at art with both eyes out on a search for the details of the piece (trust me, I know), such as the medium, texture, drawing method, etc. while trying to feel the feelings and thoughts elicited by the piece. You just can't look at a drawing of others (and, in this case, reading books) peacefully! There is no peace left for those who have become artists and for those who are interested in and love writing. I am sure you guys are know what I am talking about! 😉
Good Night,
Pomegranate Lover!
Have fun with whatever it is you guys are doing!


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One Small Thing
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo of The Royals and When It's Real comes a sensational new novel about a girl falling for the one boy she should never have met…
Beth's life hasn't been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she's thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems like a small thing, just for her.
Only Beth doesn't know how big her secret really is…
Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth's sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.
Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.
Product Details
|Publication date:
|Edition description:
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
|Age Range:
|14 - 17 Years
About the Author
Erin Watt is the brainchild of two bestselling authors linked together through their love of great books and an addiction to writing. They share one creative imagination. Their greatest love (after their families and pets, of course)? Coming up with fun-and sometimes crazy-ideas. Their greatest fear? Breaking up.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
I adore the golden team of Erin Watt, however this story was painful to read. I couldn't believe all the bullying Beth faced, to include her parents!? The plot is weak, disturbing and has little redeeming qualities. My head hurts from reading 300 pages of YA violence. My One Small Thing is, I'm glad it's over! Erin Watt, please get back to your beautiful story telling! A HUGE miss for me!
I really enjoyed this book. What a wonderful love story, and great message wrapped up in one. I definitely recommend this book and these authors.
I really enjoyed this book the plot is very interesting. And I loved their love story. I don't understand the one star reviews, I feel the author did a great job at writing the story you do feel conflicted for rooting for their love but I believe the author was able to tie everything together at the end which help understand the story better. I finished the book in two days I was so hooked.
This is by far the worst book by THIS AUTHOR
Right from the start, I got star-crossed-lovers vibes from Chase and Beth. I couldn't imagine how a relationship between them could possibly ever work out because no matter what, her inner circle - the people who matter the most in her life - would always associate him with Rachel's death. As the story progressed and we got to know Chase better though, I realized that there was a small ray of light that could possibly be the saving grace for their growing feelings for one another: Despite his part in Rachel's death, Chase was generally a good guy. He endures a lot of his own difficulties - internally and externally - that are associated with Rachel's death, and I couldn't help but admire his strength, determination, and selflessness throughout it all. Despite doing dumb and reckless things, and needlessly putting herself in dangerous situations, I actually couldn't help but admire Beth, too. She goes through a lot of change and character growth after the loss of her older sister; turning from a rebellious and reckless teenager, to a more introspective and more mature version of herself looking forward to the future. I also found the depth of Beth's ability to forgive very admirable, especially considering the circumstances she was in. Not many people can be so forgiving, myself included. I also sympathized with her immensely when she mentioned feeling "directionless" after losing her older sister, but simultaneously felt impressed that she was able to reach an epiphany that helped her realize what she was doing wrong when it came to her paranoid and overprotective parents. The growing feelings and chemistry between Chase and Beth had me captivated and really invested in their story. A huge part of me felt that it was hopeless and thought that the book might end with them finally realizing they weren't going to work, but another part of me kept hoping that somehow, against all odds, they would find a way. I really enjoyed their dynamic; Chase helped with Beth's character growth and Beth helped him realize that he still had a future to look forward to. Since this was an Erin Watt novel set in a high school, I guess I should have expected the soap-opera type of drama but, their previous stand-alone novel "When It's Real" had minimal amounts of it, so I had high hopes that this would be the same. (And, when I say "soap-opera type of drama", I mean meaningless mean girls who solely exist to cause drama for the heroine, so-called "best friends" who are so quick to backstab that I question their label of 'best friend', stereotypical ditzy girls and bully jocks, etc.) Unfortunately, it was not and felt more similar to their The Royals series. Maybe I should just stay away from their novels that predominantly occur in a high school. Despite its predictability and cheesy soap opera type of drama, I enjoyed "One Small Thing" well enough to be entertained, but what really kept me turning the pages was the development of Chase and Beth's relationship. I became so interested and invested in their budding forbidden romance, and wanted to see how it all played out in the end. If you were already an Erin Watt fan, or wanted to start reading her books, I would definitely recommend picking up "One Small Thing". It has its heartfelt moments, angst, and a ton of drama, but highlights an intriguing story of forbidden love and forgiveness. **Review originally posted on My Fangirl Chronicles**
Erin Watt books are a one-click for me, I love them all, this one however was a little bit slower than the ones before. Beth struggles after losing her sister to overbearing parents, who are unable to cope with losing their other child. Chase is the town outcast, also struggling to get away from his past and find a fresh start, when Beth and Chase meet, they are conflicted, they know how it will affect their relationship but they find themselves relaying on each other. This series are the best for teenage drama, I absoloutely recommend reading them all.
They had me at "forbidden romance". I liked Beth and Chase. She's a bit feisty and he's a bit sullen and while their chemistry is a quiet burn, it's the fact that they actually talked that sold me. I loved how absolute she was. I loved how uncertain he was. I wasn't a fan of anyone else in the story. Plot wise, it was a bit of a roller coaster. There were loads of heartbreaking, sweet, rage inducing, and hopeful scenes. I could understand why some of the things were happening, but I was so angry that no one would listen to Beth. Everyone assumed she was putting on a brave face and I wanted to throw my kindle. Overall, I did like the story and characters and I definitely wanted just a little bit more from the ending. FYI: there is a lot of controlling behavior, name calling, serious d-baggery, and an attempted rape scene. **Huge thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
When I started to read this book I had no idea where the story would get me. It's cool sometimes to be surprised my an author, in this case by two of them, by the characters and how the story seems to be taking a way to suddenly take a turn. That happened to me, and despite my age difference with the main characters I also found this story close and entertaining. In some books destiny can be awesome, leading the characters in a path of endless love and happiness. Some other times isn't that great. One Small Thing belongs to the second box. Beth and Chase, the main characters, are linked from the start even if they haven't idea. And the universe, being the big joker he is, won't let them forget that connection even for a minute. At the beginning Beth seemed to be immature and infuriating, and it's precisely that immaturity that lead her to Chase for the first time. Little by little you'll fill in the blanks into Beth story, and realize she had a reason to act the way she does. But also you'll understand her parents. I reach the point, in some parts of the book, when I said "both of you are right, but also both of you are wrong" and wanted to slap some sense into them, lol. Then Chase comes to Beth school... his past get exposed, and his future starts to blur. Guilt is something powerful, but so is love. And while the characters are fighting the feelings they think they shouldn't have, their strength will be tested in more ways that they imagine. The ending wasn't that shocking, though. Despite the odds against Chase and Beth, they found a way to heal one another, and it was beautiful. This book takes one for the team and talks about some sensible subjects like bullying, shaming, and the different forms of violence, so it's a great excuse to share it with the teens in your home. But it also talks about lost, grief, forgiveness, and friendship. I really loved this book and can't wait for you to read it!
Three and a half stars. Beth lives a half life ever since her older sister Rachel died. Her parents are over-protective but also have made their home a shrine to Rachel, stifled by the atmosphere and the helicopter parenting Beth sneaks out and goes to a party in the bad side of town where she meets and hooks up with a gorgeous guy called Chase. The next day, shocked at losing her virginity to a complete stranger, and feeling totally out of control Beth resolves to turn over a new leaf. But her resolves is sorely tested when she goes back to school and finds that Chase is not only a new joiner at the school, but also the boy who was responsible for her sister's death. For most of the book I flip-flopped between thinking Beth should apply for emancipation from her parents who crossed the line past over protective and into scary controlling and thinking that Beth was too stupid for words and the author of her own misfortune. I was also disappointed that once again female friends are shown as shallow, unreliable and judgemental - but maybe that's me being naive about high school teenagers, as I recall it was like that at senior school. Some of the characters were also a bit too much of a caricature, signalling early on what unfolded at the end. And yet ... At the climactic conclusion I was literally on the edge of my seat (on a crowded commuter train) compulsively gripping the seat, on the verge of shouting out (I know!) because the tension was that strong! Overall, not my favourite Erin Watt but gripping nonetheless.
5 " Charles Manson" Stars I generally steer clear from NA/YA stories. My road back to innocence is a one way street. I left my youth long ago and have a hard time identifying with juvenile teens or tweens HAVING. SAID. THAT . This theme could be at any age, at any turn of life. Doesn't matter the characters were high schoolers, the dilemma doesn't diminish or increase in its dimensions. Couldn't at all, becuase it's as big as Iowa as it is. Human frailty is explained at the most basic level here. The central theme or the message that the authors wanna send across is that the actions of today impact all your tomorrows and so it's vital and imperative how we behave in certain situations. Could be a drunk, rebelling, teenager or an egomaniac with anger management issues. Try and visualise high schoolers like that. Bullies, daft ignoramuses, full of piss and vinegar, feeling invincible. On a rush , in a rush, speeding through life and on streets, until with screech of tires and metal on metal clanks, glass shatters and rubber burns and everything goes blank ! Lives are destroyed, families torn apart and an entire town has lava of rage flowing on its streets, it's schools, it's homes, it's suburbs. Everything is burning !! I'm still shaking my head at the incredible story that has been unputdownable trip for me. And as they say man can fall from the highest mountain and find his legs, but when he falls in his own eyes, he struggles to meet his own eyes in the mirror. Guilt is a concrete block hanging around your neck when you're drowning in a sea of mistakes and blunders you committed. Everywhere I look, I see a closed door. A dark passage. Locked windows. If there's a way out, I can't visualize it. these past three years, the walls just kept closing in on me more and more, the noose around my neck kept getting tighter and tighter, until finally I snapped. And then there's the survivor syndrome. The The Child Who Survived We all carry our own burdens and are trapped in prisons of our own makings "you teach people how to treat you." And how do we keep breathing, keep moving, one may ask ? you focus on One Small Thing a day And Chase Charlie Donnelly is focusing on keeping his one foot in front of the other. Every step, very mile, every day is a step towards freedom from his Darling Cage. He urges Elizabeth Jones to do the same. Focus on just wants in front of you and keep moving. I focused on one good thing instead of all the messed-up stuff." One small thing. Each day that passed was one day closer to my release. No cage is forever, Beth. I tried to find one small thing that I could be grateful for each day, I fell in love with Chase. His calm, his self flagellation, should've annoyed me, but it showed me his maturity. His selfless love for Beth is just swoonworthy. Despite his suffering, he refuses to cower down or put Beth in harm's way "You waiting for me is the one small thing that will keep me going." To say that this story is profound is an understatement . It's a rule book by which to live through a disaster, if it strikes your life unfortunately. It teaches that forgiveness and acceptance is bigger than all prejudices combined. It shows us the way out of grief and onto the path of healing. Easier said than done, but who said life was easy anyway! I jumped in the book blind and emerged red, puffy eyed but smiling through the pain. And there is a lot of pain in it.the town of Darling is so messed up and broken due to the accid
One Small Thing by Erin Watt is a young adult story that deals with the aftermath of a family loss. Beth feels restricted and confined by her parents. The loss of her sister Rachel has made her overbearing parents even worse and the loss has also deeply effected her as well. Sneaking out to a party one night she meets Chase, who is everything she needs and everything she hates. As we learn more about Beth and Chase a simple rebellious relationship gets more complicated. Chase's history and how it involves Rachel's death gives One Small Thing a different track than expected. A story about loss, becomes one about life, choices, and new beginnings. I recommend One Small Thing by Erin Watt as a thought provoking and developed story but do want to mention a trigger warning for those who may want to avoid books that have a theme of a lost loved one. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
I finished Erin Watt's newest release two days ago, but I haven't felt sorted enough to write up my review; my thoughts about the characters, the conflict, and the plot line are still conflicted…still at odds with each other, which makes it difficult to craft my feelings when it comes to Beth and Chase's story. So bare with me as I attempt to unravel my entangled views and try and make sense as to why One Small Thing is so difficult for me to review. Characters - Let me start by saying that even though I was extremely frustrated and appalled by many of the characters' actions and behaviors, I also, on some level, understood why they said and did the things they did given the circumstances that they faced. BUT, I don't think there's a character in the story that I didn't want to knock some sense into at least once and there were many who I wanted to continually smack in the face in order for them to see a little clearer and a little less self-absorbed. The one character that I didn't have too much of an issue with is Chase; he handled himself the only way he knew how to, dealing with the reality of his 'new' life, and I can honestly say that I don't think I would have endured the mistreatment, the bullying, the name calling that he handled as diplomatically as he did even when I'm sure he was seething inside. Beth is the character that had my emotions all over the place; there were times when she seemed like a melodramatic crybaby, completely consumed with her 'woe is me' thoughts, never looking at the big picture…never trying to understand how others would feel by her words or her actions. She also seemed so contrary throughout the story, and while it's understandable for her to be upset with her parents' overprotectiveness and their need to control her every move, her heightened emotions brought more pain and hurt feelings than anything that could benefit her relationship with them. It was extremely difficult to feel sympathy towards Beth when she didn't do much to help her cause or attempt a new course when the one she chose wasn't working. I also struggled with Beth's so-called best friends, especially Scarlett, and Rachel's long-term boyfriend, Jeff. It was too easy for them to stand against Beth once she started doing things they didn't like or agree with and Jeff's place in Beth's life as well as the way her parents idolized him just didn't mesh with how he acted outwardly whenever he was alone with Beth and don't even get me started on his actions at the end of the story; I already disliked him from the first scene he was written into and it turned to loathing pretty quickly after his initial introduction. Even though I was a bit disappointed in One Small Thing, I'm still a huge Erin Watt fan, and I will continue to be one. They're a fantastic writing duo whose storytelling teaches readers valuable life lessons in realistic settings, so while I didn't love Beth and Chase's story, the message behind the title is extremely relatable, and if our society would stop looking at all of the negatives around them and focus on one small thing about their lives that help them to get through the day then this world might just be a little lighter in the midst of all of the chaos, and it's this teachable idea that I will take with me and implement into my life because it's a fantastic reminder about how we should live our lives and never take our lives for granted. 3.5 Poison Apples
4.5 Stars Review by Amy Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog One Small Thing was such a touching standalone story that filled me with a gamut of emotions and left me with a smile on my face. Erin Watt did such a stellar job of building an amazing connection with the characters that I didn't want it to end. This was my first book by Watt and I look forward to reading more. Beth's life has never been the same since her sister was killed in an accident three years earlier. Intent on finding a little fun before she starts her senior year, she sneaks out to a party and finds herself smitten with Chase, a quiet guy she finds floating in and out of the party like a ghost. After spending a memorable evening together, they go their separate ways. Beth shows up the first day of her senior year and finds Chase attending the same school, but she soon finds out he is not who she thought he was. The connection they had still plays in her mind though, and she struggles to decide if she can forgive his sordid past and start a relationship with him. It doesn't take Beth long to realize her decision affects so many more people than just her and Chase, and the pain and emotion that she struggles with while she balances her family, her thoughts, and her heart becomes too much. What choice with Beth make? Will she follow her heart or sacrifice her happiness to keep the peace? These teens found themselves in such a difficult situation and they had to make some very adult decisions. Meanwhile the adults around them were making juvenile and shallow judgments. It was such an interesting concept and I am so glad I had a chance to read this. The pacing was perfect, the characters were entertaining and the emotions were raw. There is nothing like a great love story that overcomes all odds to be together. I really loved this one!
If you ever decide to read only one Erin Watt book, One Small Thing should be this book. Beth Jones is a senior at highschool and her life isn´t a easy one. Her parents shelter her and suffocate her at the same time. Their restrictions and mistrust hurts Beth deeply. And then there´s Chase Donelly, the new boy at school, the bad boy she should stay far away from. But they´re like magnets and she can´t stay away from him. Chase made mistakes in the past, mistakes that changed his and others lives for forever, and Beth is one of them. There are only a couple of authors I can rely on to write stories that speak to me every single time. Erin Watt is one of them. I still remember reading The Royals Series and how I was blown away. I was sucked in and instantly a fan of the author's writing. That was the beginning, I haven't regretted it once. I love every single story of Erin Watt and they´re one of my few one click authors. Their characters "speak " to me and I can live with them in their world. One Small Thing is a heart wrenching, tear jerking, page turning story that gutted me and left me in a major book hangover. I highly recommend One Small Thing and wish I could give more than 5 stars.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. When I see that Erin Watt has a new book coming out, it goes right on my to be read list. One Small Thing doesn't disappoint. Between Beth's sheltered life to Chase's secrets, it's a roller coaster ride. You'll feel for both of these main characters and want to knock some sense into everyone around them. This book will have you wondering how many times you put away your feelings so you can blend in with what everyone around you is telling you to believe/feel. I did predict the ending, but it doesn't make it that less special. One Small Thing has a bigger meaning and it's one I'm glad Chase shares with Beth, because it reminds us all to look for it. I recommend 4 star book to anyone who needs that good by the pool read. ARC provided by publisher.
O.M.G. you guys! This story was so, SO good! My heart is so happy right now. I just loved these characters... young, broken, and beautiful. My heart ached for Beth and Chase. They were both so lost and alone after that tragic night. I just wanted to hold them both! Beth struggled so much, but despite her pain, she fought so hard for her and Chase. I admired her strength and tenacity to keep fighting for them. She was everything Chase needed. Aw, Chase. He was such an amazing character. So mature for his age. A young guy forced to become a man overnight. I loved his perspective and how he taught Beth to see the beauty in the little things all the while still suffering himself. I felt so many emotions while reading their story. I loved every minute of it! One Small Thing is a perfect young adult novel. There was angst, heartache, drama, a villain, and two incredibly endearing characters, all wrapped up in one amazing story about love, forgiveness and redemption. This is definitely an I Love Story Time Favorite! ♥ Review by Lys
I was disappointed in this one. I'm giving it 2 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion. I didn't really like any of the characters besides Chase. Without spoiling things, like every other character was awful at least half of the time, if not more often. One person I wanted to smack, punch, etc. Well I'd probably do those things to a few others, but one in particular made my blood boil. One major thing (ha) that annoyed me was how predictable this book was. And the ending was wrapped up so neatly in the last 3-4% that it made me roll my eyes a little; it felt too choreographed to resemble real life. This was pretty depressing to read at times. I mean it was a sad subject (obviously based on the summary), but there wasn't really anything happy about it at all. It got a little overwhelming sometimes. But if you liked Pushing the Limits, or Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry, you'd probably like this one. It just wasn't for me unfortunately.
One Small Thing really tugged on my heartstrings, Erin Watt's books usually pull emotions out of me but not this particular one. I loved that, that it drew such an emotional response from me. It didn't make me cry but I was emotionally invested in the story especially the hero's pain. It didn't matter that I'd figured out where it was going and what would happen I was in, I was all in. That fact did not alter my overall enjoyment of it at all, I enjoyed it quite a lot. I love forbidden stories. I loved that this story had that element and that it was such an untenable situation yet it worked. I definitely recommend this book to those who love forbidden stories that are heartfelt. ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley
I'm not sure if it was the cute cover or the fact that this was categorized as a YA novel, but I really wasn't expecting this to be such an emotional book. It isn't a light and fluffy read, but rather one that will have you questioning and thinking about it long after you finish. I'm glad I went into this book blind and I actually wish the blurb didn't give away the main conflict of the story. It made the revelation so much more devastating. The weight and impact of it more profound. One Small Thing isn't just a contemporary romance. It's a story of forgiveness, acceptance, grief, and love. It shows how people handle tragedy, for better or for worse, and the lasting ripples these events cause. I think what captivated me most about the book was that I truly had no idea how a story like this would end. Chase and Beth undergo a huge transformation from the people they once were, the people we meet, and the people they (hopefully) become. Yes, there were times I was frustrated with each of them as well as the people in their lives, but more often than not, I felt their pain, confusion, and anguish over these seemingly impossible obstacles. The secondary characters, though predictable, were perfectly over the top and succeeded in earning my anger and disgust. Mr. Jones and Jeff were quite the pair throughout the book. I honestly only really liked Chase and Beth (though Beth's mom grew on me). Things did wrap up quickly at the end, but I felt satisfied with the outcome and the maturity our characters displayed. I especially loved how the title tied into the book so wonderfully and that the ending left the reader with a sense of hope and maybe feeling just a little bit lighter. 4.5 stars *I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
The beginning of this book felt like chaos for me to read. It reminded me a lot like the beginning of The Host by Stephanie Meyer where the first few paragraphs are chaotic and it's difficult to piece together what is going on in the words that you're reading. Then I remembered, that much like The Host, there's a usually reason for an author to begin a story this way and I began to relax. I was then able to take in the story that was unfolding through the pages and put the pieces the puzzle together in my mind. By the end of chapter five I decided I loved this book. The big "twist" totally caught me off guard and I was truly impressed with the way the authors bring you to that point in the story and had me essentially rooting for the bad guy. The angst in this read is immense. One Small Thing is more than just a teenage angst filled read though. The situations contained within its pages are super deep and thought provoking so you're left with so much more than just a great love story in my opinion. (The love story is pretty great though.) ;) I give One Small Thing 5 out of 5 Krissy's Stars! If you're in the market for an emotionally charged, thought provoking read this summer, I think you're going to love this book. Xo-K *I was generously given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Just Wow! Now I went into this book completely, 100% blind. I refrained from reading even the synopsis to the story, let alone any reviews. I didn't know exactly what to expect....but I can tell you that it wasn't this. I've been a fan of Erin Watt since their inception. I believe that I've read just about everything that this writing duo has released. I especially loved When It's Real...and let's not even get started on their Royals series. So, I was expecting something similar to these stories when I sat down to read One Small Thing. And boy was I surprised. This story had some unexpected twists to it. It's not a light hearted subject either. The two main characters meet up and hook up one night at a high school party. Beth "Lizzie" is out of her element, hanging with kids that she doesn't know. Attending a party at a house that she's not familiar with. She's trying to escape something...or is she trying to find something, or someone? She finds Chase "Charlie". He's the hot guy who catches her eye across the kitchen and she seeks him out. She figures that this is a one time thing, and that she will never have to see these kids again. That she can lose herself for the night; and she does. What she doesn't expect is to walk into her Calculus class the first day of her senior year to find Chase there. What she doesn't also expect is to find out that these 2 are permanently linked - no she's not pregnant. But these 2 are irrevocably tied together due to things that happened in the past. Things that each is trying to accept and move on from. An interesting, twisted story. I loved it. It kept me on my toes. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the story. I found my self rooting on Chase. I also found myself angry with Beth's friends. As a whole, a brilliantly written story!
This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased, honest opinion. I went into this one a little nervous about what to expect. I absolutely LOVE their Royals series and it's truly hard to read other books by this author duo without comparing to it. This one sadly didn't work for me. I found it to be very difficult to read and fairly predictable. This is not a peppy, happy book. It does have an amazing theme to it, which I can totally appreciate. But overall, I was disappointed. This story follows a family and town as they deal with the lose of one of their own, Rachel. Rachel was killed in a car accident by Charlie Donnelly. Beth, Rachel's sister and formally known as Lizzie, meets Charlie, aka Chase, at a party one night and they have instant chemistry. Eventually, Beth finds out who Chase really is but still has issues denying her feelings for him. I'll stop there so I don't get too much into the plot. The characters in this one were absolutely dreadful. I strongly disliked 95% of them. I'm talking serious loathing on my end. I think that made the book that much harder to enjoy because you felt Beth and Chase's emotions of being constantly judged, criticized, and weighed down. It wasn't easy to process as a reader so I cannot imagine how the actual characters felt. The theme for this book was there's something good to be found in every single day. It may be the tiniest of things but it's still something. These days it is extremely easy to get bogged down so I can appreciate this story telling us to just look for one small thing. Just one thing in each day to push you forward or to let you deal with all you are going through. For that, I loved the book. I just wish I enjoyed the overall story more.


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Using Product Evaluation to Monitor an Asphalt Mix
Introduction In previous blogs we have discussed the benefits of the Stonemont KPI and the Mix Risk analysis tool. Mix Risk uses the Stonemont KPI to provide an evaluation of potential future performance of a mix design prior to or during production of the mix. However, the Stonemont KPI also can be used to


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Re-Stocking Fee
- All returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee.
- Orders sent back as "return to sender" will be refunded, minus the shipping and re-stocking fee.
- All returns will be assigned an RMA# (return merchandise authorization).
- Any item sent back without approval or without an RMA# will have a 25% re-stocking fee.


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Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson have had their say on why England struggle to compete in big tournaments.
The Liverpool duo have become big players for their country, with Lallana being named England Player of the Year for 2016. And with the Three Lions qualifying comfortably for the 2018 World Cup, Gareth Southgate will be aiming to build a team capable of bringing the trophy home.
England have struggled in recent tournaments, with the media's influence and 'the weight of the shirt' seen as factors in why teams with such good individuals have clicked on the big stage.
But with Southgate willing to experiment with inexperienced players to find a good team rather than 11 good individuals, Henderson and Lallana believe that things are looking up.
Interesting stuff from Henderson and Lallana on the reasons behind England's struggles🤔— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) November 17, 2017
"If I had the answer to those questions, I'd be England manager"🔴
🎥 @YahooSportUK pic.twitter.com/aXBUTAOcJi
Speaking to YahooSportUK, the pair said: "It's been so long now since we won anything at international level which means pressure and expectations are going to be there, will it be this year [that we win silverware].
"If I had the answers [to where it's gone wrong] i'd be England manager. It is difficult, but Gareth's building a foundation and mean and Jordan are delighted to be a part of that.
"With the games that we've played recently against top teams like Spain, Germany, Brazil, I feel as though we're showing what we're capable of, and I thought the last couple of games defensively we've been very good.
"I think in the next six months before the World Cup, Gareth will be working on the possession side of things, keeping the ball better and in the final third to create a couple of chances."


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…Martha fricking Stewart. A little sloppy-Joe in consistency, but tastes damn fine – so much so that it got two avid meat fans reaching for bun number two. Served it up with the usual melted, sharp cheddar and salad.
This burger recipe is multifaceted however, a discovery made upon making too much mix for three people. So with the left-overs we made small, falafal-sized balls, lightly fried them and made some darned fine pitta filling, served up with home-made houmous and spicy tomato ketchup.
The houmous consisted of:
- 2xcans chickpeas
- 4xcloves of garlic
- 1xlemon
- 2xtbsps tahini
- 2xtps cumin seeds
- Olive oil
- salt and pepper
- Rinse the chickpeas and put in blender
- Add the pealed cloves garlic, cumin seed, a squeeze of the lemon, the tahini and a drizzle of the oil
- Blend it up
- Add more oil according to how you want the texture – smoother = more oil
- Season to taste, adding more lemon/cumin/pepper/tahini/salt and pepper as so desired
If you don't have a blender it is possible to pummel the chickpeas and associated ingredients in a pestle and mortar. You won't get the same consistency but still the same idea.
Pittas were assembled with a generous layer of houmous, finely chopped red onion, cucumber, red pepper, rocket, the fried quinoa balls, yoghurt and spicy ketchup. Pittas, houmous and salad made a superb lunch the following day as well.


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John Batchelor Show Hotel Mars with Marcia Smith, Wednesday, 4-9-14 April 10, 2014Posted by The Space Show in Uncategorized.
Tags: : John Batchelor, Commercial Crew, Congress, Hotel Mars, ISS, Marcia Smith, NASA, National Research Council, Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Russian scientific community., SLS-Orion, SpacePolicyOnline.com, Susan Eisenhower
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John Batchelor Show Hotel Mars with Marcia Smith, Wednesday, 4-9-14
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Guests: John Batchelor, Marcia Smith Dr. David Livingston. Topics: NASA implementing sanctions against Roscosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency. You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. We do not permit the commercial use of any Space Show program or part thereof, nor do we permit Space Show programs to be edited, placed on YouTube, or other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted in news articles, papers, academic & research work but must be cited or referenced in the proper citation format. Contact Dr. Livingston for questions about our copyright and trademark policies which we do enforce. This program is archived on The Space Show website, podcasting, and blog sites with permission from John Batchelor. Please visit the John Batchelor Show website for more information about this fine program, www.johnbatchelorshow.com. Remember, your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support The Space Show/OGLF (www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm). For those of you listening to archives on live365.com & rating the programs, please email me the reasons for your rating. This will definitely help improve Space Show programming. Thank you.
We welcomed Marcia Smith of www.spacepolicyonline.com to the segment to discuss the National Research Council's sanctions against Russia for their behavior in the Crimea/Ukraine region. We talked about the sanctions applicable to NASA, Roscosmos, exemptions from the sanctions of which there are several, the ISS, NASAs budget, the U.S. Congress and the continued funding, and a priority for SLS-Orion. We talked about Susan Eisenhower, a long time NASA advisor, siding with Senator Bill Nelson in thinking the sanctions may backfire on NASA & the U.S. because of the lack of scientific exchanges. Much more on this topic was discussed in this 11.5 minute segment.
Please post any comments/questions you might have on The Space Show blog. You can contact any of us through email@example.com.
Dr. Jeff Bell, Monday, 2-20-12 February 21, 2012Posted by The Space Show in Uncategorized.
Tags: " Phobos Grunt Mission, Anatoly Zak, Bob Zubrin, Chinese Space Program, Curiosity, Delta 2 program, Dr. Jeff Bell, Dragon, EELV, Falcon, human spaceflight, ISS, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Kepler Space Telescope, Lavochkin, low cost space access, lunar settlement, Mars Polar Lander, MSL, NASA science missions, National Lab, NewSpace, Phobos 88, Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Russian management, Russian space industry, Sergei Korolev., Soyuz, Space Launch System (SLS)., Space X, Stratolaunch, ULA
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Dr. Jeff Bell, Monday, 2-20-12
Guest: Dr. Jeff Bell. Topics: Dr. Bell's assessment of NASA, the science missions, human spaceflight, the Russian space problems, & Phobos-Grunt conspiracy theories. You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, https://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. We welcomed Dr. Jeff Bell back to the program for his assessment of space today in theUnited States, along with the problems facing the Russian space industry and the Phobos-Grunt conspiracy theories as to why the mission failed. Those familiar with Dr. Bell and his Space Show programs will not be disappointed as this two hour plus discussion is vintage Jeff Bell. Dr. Bell started with an assessment of the problems over the last year and half or so with the Russian space industry and its management. Jeff does a good job of summarizing their history of manufacturing, technology, and engineering problems going back to the time of Sergei Korolev. He also shares with us his experiences working with the Russians on the Phobos 88 mission. He said typical characteristics of Russian missions leading to problems include being too ambitious, costly for their budgets, and the labor allocated to the projects. He suggested that we in theU.S. do the same thing and cited MSL and Curiosity as an example. He had much to say about the early Soviet Venus probes and how their data was widely discounted outside of theSoviet Union. He then said Space X might be overextending and he cited several ongoing Space X projects which might distract from their primary mission at hand which is to get Falcon and Dragon operational. Listeners asked about the Russian problems driving customers away from doing business withRussia in favor of ULA in theU.S. Here, Dr. Bell had much to say about ULA pricing, overhead costs without NASA sharing them, and more. He also mentioned what was happening to Delta 2 given the GPS system needing larger rockets as an example of the impact of government policy/spending in space industries. Dr. Bell turned to the latest Phobos-Grunt conspiracy theories for the mission failure. At the end of this segment, Dr. Bell talked about the JWST & Curiosity in terms of overly complex and costly missions.
In the second segment, Jeff talked about the Newt space policy suggestions and the idea of the Moon as the 51st state. He had much to say about the ridicule in the media and was not surprised by it. He used this as an example to say reality "conflicts with the space cadet world view." In talking about Mars missions, he said people had been conned by the Mars theory of life stories and promoters. He said that Mars and HSF were not worth it. Several listeners called in to debate Jeff on these comments but Jeff took no prisoners. He then talked about the ISS and its less than full utilization and that the entire idea of HSF had come and gone. At one point in response to a listener question/comment, Dr. Bell said that all Zubrin offered was a 60's program! Jeff did have good things to say about the science and robotic missions, said our planet exploration would be with robots, not humans, and that we needed more missions like the Kepler Space Telescope. He repeated throughout the discussion that nothing useful has come form HSF nor would it. He offered that the basic technology was from the70's and had not changed. He said overall interest in space had declined since Apollo. In his closing comments, he said he was still hopeful that NewSpace would decrease the launch costs as that would be a game changer.
If you have questions/comments for Dr. Jeff Bell, post them on The Space Show blog URL above.


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On a sunny day in mid-December, Kyal and Kara's Long Jetty Reno hit the market. All of the love and passion (and man hours) they put into the project paid off with the hammer falling on auction day and one happy family ecstatic about their new home.
It was a challenging nine months for the renovating duo but worthwhile in the end, with a beautiful home created for a new family to enjoy.
What's next for Kyal and Kara? With their second baby on the way, we're sure it won't be long before they are behind the power tools once again.
Thank you to everyone who has watched and enjoyed the series over the last few months.
Stay tuned for Wideline's next collaboration.


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For the first year Filmarmalade, a London based publisher and DVD label specialising in contemporary artists' film and video works, teams up with Arnolfini to celebrate their launch.
Alongside other short works and interviews we will screen recent Filmmarmalade releases: Pil and Galia Kollectiv's Co-Operative Explanatory Capabilities in Organizational Design and Personnel Management, Beth Fox's A Marvellous Negative Capability and the world premier screening of The Modern Language Experiments'sImagining a Re-Synchronizing (The Phantom Twin).
Videos will be showing all day. Entry is free. At 6.15pm, the screening will be followed by a public discussion with the artists' and the artist-publisher Gordon Shrigley.
Co-Operative Explanatory Capabilities in Organizational Design and Personnel Management
Pil and Galia Kollectiv, UK, 2010, Video, B&W, Sound, 23 mins
Pil and Galia Kollectiv's Co-Operative Explanatory Capabilities in Organizational Design and Personnel Management, is composed of a series of still photographs taken from an online archive that documents the transformation of a pioneering computing company into a religious cult. The work investigates the place of creativity in efficiency management and the operation of bureaucratic systems in a post-industrial work environments.
Pil and Galia Kollectiv recently exhibited work at The Showroom Gallery, London, the Trade Gallery, Birmingham, Royal Standard, Liverpool and has screened work at the Oberhausen film festival, Limoncello, London and at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London. Pil and Galia Kollectiv were born in Jerusalem, Israel and live and work in London.
An Interview with Pil and Galia Kollectiv
Gordon Shrigley, featuring Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Nina Power and Marina Vishmidt, UK, 2013, Video, Colour, Sound, 55 mins
A Marvellous Negative Capability
Beth Fox, UK, 2012, Video, Colour, Sound, 9 mins
Beth Fox's, A Marvellous Negative Capability, records two high camp art critics discussing a work of video art to camera. The work parodies and yet ultimately celebrates, the various forms of metro sexual postmodern contemporary art criticism and its marked tendency to luxuriate in the eternal return of the absurdity of discourse and its many tautological obsessions.
Beth Fox recently recently exhibited work at Divus Gallery, London, Angus-Hughes Gallery, London, the Horse Hospital, London and the Bunkhouse Gallery, Madrid. She was born in Ireland and lives and works in London.
Various Incomplete Scenes from Porcile [a performative interview]
Beth Fox, Konstanty Czart and Gordon Shrigley, UK, 2013m, Video, Colour, Sound, 16 mins
Imagining a Re-Synchronizing (The Phantom Twin)
The Modern Language Experiment, UK, 2013, Video, Colour, Sound, 20 mins
The Modern Language Experiment's Imagining a Re-Synchronizing (The Phantom Twin), follows a collection of unnamed characters through a series of imagined future urban landscapes whilst discussing and quoting two literary works, one real and one imagined. The work investigates the temporality of the imagination and its marked tendency to live possible alternative futures now.
The Modern Language Experiment recently exhibited work at Angus-Hughes Gallery, London, Garis and Hahn, New York, the Bermondsey Project, London and at the Sluice Art Fair, London. The Modern Language Experiment were formed in 2007 and are based in London.
Working Title [a performative interview]
The Modern Language Experiment and Gordon Shrigley, UK, 2013, Video, Colour, Sound, 30 mins
This Fanciful Digression
Friday March 8th, 2013
Michelle Deignan's and Carmen Billows' first collaboration embraces the detours of their dialogue. A conversation that began with the subject of representation, has evolved into an artists' film and performance event.
Featuring work by collectif_fact, Michelle Deignan, Nooshin Farhid, Patrick Goddard, Hannah Jones, Rabih Mroué, Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, Michael Robinson, Matthew Stock and Stefan Sulzer, the programme is an unpredictable associative journey through places, plots and characters.
Be there from start to finish!
Book your free tickets here:
Black Maria is a major new commission by the British artist Richard Wentworth working in collaboration with GRUPPE, an emerging Swiss architecture practice.
Film Still, Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, 'Live to Tell"
Launch: Madame Wang Issue 2: Self Assessment.
Saturday November 5th 2011 Banner Repeater. 6-9pm.
Madame Wang ranges over the poles of collaborative reflection, from evocations of Whitehead-like societal intensities to re-appropriated 80's business speak. It aims to challenge and synthesise experiential and theoretical voices coming from thinking about being together that range from mystical anthropology to object oriented approaches. MW II has been born from an intensive week long self assessment programme playing out the possibilities and fantasies of the communal spirit.
Contributions from: Nicholas Carr, Tom Trevatt, Matthew Stock, Pil & Galia Kollectiv, Jo Ying Peng, John Colenbrander, Friederike Hamann, PsychoanalYSL, Jessica Tsang, Am Nuden Da, July Video Coalition.
Editors: Sam Basu & Craig Cooper.
Design: Satu-Maria Jokinen.
Screenings at 7pm and 8pm.
July Video Coalition:
1) Library, Auto Image Series 7'44" 2010.
2) Production Stills, Auto Image Series, 3'30", 2010.
3) Astral Evidence 5'48" 2011. (footage filmed at Banner Repeater).
Alasdair Duncan films:
Unité:WINDOW. 2011 duration 1:51.
Unité:UNTITLED. 2011 duration 4:14.
Signs for the Future: Spensers, Kaliv Ir. 2011 duration 5:57.
Self Assessment Object by John Colenbrander and Friederike Hamann (installation in bookshop).
Madame Wang Self Assessment / Treignac Project, 22 - 28 August 2011
Madame Wang invitation to synthesise material generated within the context of the magazine. It will produce a meta-journal that will analyse the latent possiilities od publication, project authoring, and new approaches to knowledge creation.
This week of self assessment will seek to exceed the appendix or addendum format of supplementary commentory and incorporate a cross analysis of the data in Madame Wang.
The self assessment will take place within the context of Treignac Project, France through a series of informal discussion, readings, film and events.
New International School / Presentation at Goldsmiths College
NIS membors Matthew Stock and Craig Cooper present the work produced by NIS over the past two years, as part of the programme of events by the MA Curating course.
Date: Tue Nov 16, 2010 18:30-19:30
Participants: Craig Cooper and Matthew Stock
Hosted by: Snejana Krasteva
Made in Goldsmiths Gallery
Goldsmiths College, Students Union
This is the first of the series of November Screenings & Talks at the MIG (Made in Goldsmiths) Gallery. Hosted by a different curator each time, the series aims at discerning a variety of approaches to a broad question provoked by the educational context in which the gallery operates: What is it to receive? The invited artists are asked to use the format of video or film to start a conversation on how they understand this question and how issues around it have been formative in their art practice. Although initially inspired by the intrinsic situation of Made in Goldsmiths gallery, the series aims at going beyond these confines and negotiate an expansive set of cultural references.
Artists Craig Cooper and Matthew Stock will kick off the series with thoughts on New Collaborative Practices. By way of avoiding the question of receiving as a singular process, they suggest "looking at the number of opportunities one has to receive and the situation of having a great density of obligations and rewards from this." Although both artists have individual practices, they will focus on their geographically dispersed collaborations with the New International School (NIS) & Madame Wang, and share their observations on other examples of mobile coalitions of artists. By proposing the term Betweenness Centrality, used mostly in graph theory and network analysis, they offer a different way of appreciating the role of each member in the ever changing traffic on the paths between them. The talk with start with two recent videos made with NIS: A Tergo (2009) and A May Night, Or The Drowned Woman (2010).
Made in Goldsmiths Gallery is directed by the Goldsmiths, MFA Curating, Part 2, for the 2010-2011 academic year. The programming will establish a communal atmosphere, defined by dialogue, confrontation, and negotiation. Rotating exhibitions and events will involve intelligible activity with formal practices. Diagnosing key artistic processes situates the exhibition space in a comparable forward thinking position. The Made in Goldsmiths Gallery is conceived as more of a platform/pretext than a space.
Made in Goldsmiths (Gallery)
Goldsmiths College, Students' Union,
Dixon road, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW
Opening Hours: Wednesday - Friday, 2.00 - 6.00 & by appointment
Contact: email@example.com
New International School / The Horror Film / August 2010
NIS will be shooting its first full feature Horror film, which will again be located at The Treignac Project in the south of france.
The horror film is in production and due for release in the summer 2011.
The Treignac Project / 1 month residancy / August 2010
The Treiganc Project is located in the south of france. It is run by Sam and Liz Basu.
The Treignac Projet is an off centre, peer-initiated organisation, directed towards collaborative activity within the arts. The project is modelled on the University rather than the regional Arts Centre, where research and teaching, auto-administration, and academic independence, all come together through the efforts of a network of Peers.
See Matthew Stock's work on the Treignac Project Website
The Modern Language Experiment presents Deceit / July 2010
This exhibition is an investigation into the importance placed on truth by artists and audiences alike.
This show will question the extent to which the truth lies in the interpretation of the work and, once found, whether this truth is in reality a deceit.
Italo Calvino, in his novel, Invisible Cities brings together a storyteller, Marco Polo and an emperor, Kublai Khan. Polo is charged with the task of walking Kahn's land and recounting tales of its cities; tales, which to the reader and ultimately to Khan, seem only to resonate from Polo's imagination. Through this deceit Calvino is investigating ideas about truth and interpretation and as the story inconclusively ends it leaves Kahn in a paradox unable to decipher the real from the imaginary.
Each of the artists in this exhibition takes a direct and distinctive approach to this deceit, whether it is in its processes, interpretation, imagination or narrative, like Polo they are forcing the viewer to ask "do I believe what I am seeing or hearing?" and like Khan the viewer is left in an eternal paradox that exists balanced on the thin line between deceit and truth.
Curated by Matthew Stock and Keh Ng
Central St. Martins MA Fine Art Degree Show/ date posted 23/07/2009
MA degree show will commence from the 1st Sept until 7th Sept 2009
Address: Central St. Martins, Charing Cross Road, London
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Jamais Vu | date posted 26/07/2009 | click for map
Jamais Vu is As part of the Hackneywicked festival
How do memories form? How do cognitive processes transform direct experience? Can we even rely on our own memories? The momentary experience of Deja Vu, the surreal feeling that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously; or of Jamais vu, the eerie feeling of not being able to recognise a situation which we rationally know to be familiar, makes us question the 'reality' of reality as our memory plays tricks. Eight artists explore these uncanny moments, the slippery hinterland which is memory and how it can delude by re-imagining,
transforming or erasing experience altogether
Featuring work by: David Rickard | Imogen O'Rorke | Keh Ng | Tina Hage | Olivia Reynolds | Bona Park | Matthew Stock | Warren Garland
Opening night 31st July 6-11pm.
Exhibition continues 1st to 2nd August 12-7pm
DIRECTIONS: H.Forman & Son (the big salmon-pink building), Stour Road, Fish Island, London E3 2NT (free parking)
V22 PRESENTS: The Sculpture Show / 26th April - 31 May 2009
V22 PRESENTS is a series of projects produced in collaboration with artists, curators and art organisations in a variety of venues around London. V22 PRESENTS decided to explore the modes of thought and production in sculpture. To open a dialogue we put to five artists - Shahin Afrassiabi, Sam Basu, Simon Bill, Cedric Christie, Fergal Stapleton - the following:
For the second project V22 PRESENTS have invited 5 artist curators to select works that engage with current developments and critiques in contemporary Sculpture.
The archaic term Sculpture can no longer contain the multiple directions and potentials that artists have attributed to it throughout its history.
Through bringing together diverse approaches and understanding from international artists, groups and projects V22 PRESENTS: The Sculpture Show is an opportunity to engage with the diverse potentials that have come to encapsulate, and exist within, the definition Sculpture.
Matthew Stock will be showing his video work "The Suit"
click here for more info...
Current Projects / date posted 2/01/2009
The environment for Matthew's new work "The Suit" is the art gallery, which focuses on the displacement of certain catagories that occur when time is divorced from place, these categaories being;
The artist / The Viewer / The work of art / The institution
The suit comprises of a jacket embedded with hidden CCTV cameras. These cameras convery the eye of the audience, who inturn become complicit in the work. The categories function as a loop; the camera creates a narrative structure and also embodies a fictional character - the hyper real. This narrative structure is ultimately undone by this displacement of the categories in time and place
Interim Show 2009 / date posted 04/12/2008 / click mouse to see map
Central St. Martins interim show 2009 will be held at the Bargehouse, Oxo Tower. The private View is on Tursday 5 Feburary, 2009 from 6pm - 8.30pm. The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday 6 Feb - Sunday 8th Feb. See you there
Address: Oxo Tower Wharf / Barge House Street / London SE1 9PH
Nearest Tube: Southwark
Sluice Exchange Berlin, Nov 2018
Upcoming Talks and Seminars


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Happy New Year! We hope the first days of January are treating you well.
Whether you love making resolutions or prefer to avoid them, the start of every year is filled with them. Even if typical New Year's resolutions make you cringe, however, don't give up on the notion of successful promises. New projects of any kind, regardless of the time of their creation, are bound to help you improve. Why not start now?
As ambitious photographers, we're always on the lookout for personal success. Few things are as creatively satisfying as knowing that you successfully made the right decision. Resolutions are a way for us to promise that we'll do our best in a specific area of our lives. Resolutions can be changed, replaced, and refined; using them the right way will truly make you a better photographer.
So, in honor of 2018, here are a few New Year's resolutions that will help you improve your photography.
Want to achieve a sunburst effect or beautiful sky background like the photo above? Start with our sky and sunshine overlays:
Work on Your Fear of Failure
Driven by fears, many artists refuse to submit their photos to contests, connect with like-minded people, or experiment with new genres. They're afraid of being rejected, judged, or not considered worthy. While these concerns are rational, they shouldn't have the right to control your decisions. If a voice in your head says that you're unworthy, obliterate it by facing your fears. You're in the photography industry for a reason; embrace your skills and don't be afraid of making mistakes once in a while.
Take Photos Only When You Want To
Just because you're in a breathtaking place doesn't mean you have to take photos. If you take photos when your hands are itching to hold a camera — and not when you feel pressured to document your surroundings — you'll notice a significant improvement in your work. Not taking photos all the time will make you feel in control and allow you to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Don't Spend Too Much Time on Social Media
More specifically, don't spend too much time comparing yourself to other photographers on social media. Even well-known photographers fall into a pit of self-doubt from time to time. Instead of envying someone else's skills, equipment, or opportunities, ask yourself how you can improve. Instead of bringing yourself down because another artist is more experienced than you, appreciate your current strengths. Nurturing your strengths and improving your weaknesses will give you something healthy to do and distract you from the endless temptations of social media.
Learn Something New Every Week
Education doesn't have a limit, a specific location, or a deadline. Being a lifelong student will help you improve consistently; everything you learn will shape you into a more knowledgeable and wiser photographer. Here are a few things you can focus on:
- Editing – A better knowledge of Photoshop, Lightroom, or a different program will take your photos to the next level
- Communicating – There's always room for improvement in the world of socialization. If you feel awkward in the presence of new clients, learn more about self-confidence and effective communication. Knowing how to express yourself confidently will help you master not only your photoshoots, but your relationships.
- Photographing within other genres – Learning something about a different genre will help you appreciate other people's hard work and show you something special about your own genre.
Take More Photos of Your Family
It's easy to get caught up in client photoshoots. While you focus on your business, don't forget to take photos of your loved ones. Don't take your home, family members, or familial atmospheres for granted. By documenting your family's daily activities, you'll find an immense amount of gratitude and joy. You'll also have the chance to add more wonderful photos to your portfolio, photo frames, or both! Your family members will thank you for your effort.
The new year doesn't have to be a mess of unwanted resolutions. It doesn't have to involve long lists of promises you're too afraid to keep. Instead of worrying about failure, know that you're in control. Choose resolutions that you truly care about and refine them as time passes. Before you know it, you'll be succeeding in unimaginable ways. Go you!