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Friday, September 25, 2015
Tutorial ~ Skirt Refashion and Headband
There are several reasons why I like to do refashioning and re-purposing; here are some of them:
* It is fun to see the transformation of plain or not so attractive things
* In many cases it is more economical than buying something new
* I get to be creative
* I love the feeling of giving new life to otherwise unwanted items
* I can create one of a kind items
One of my favorite refashionings is to use grown up (or teen) skirt to make a skirt for Rachel. I am not a big fan of spending a lot for kids; clothing especially since they grow out of them so quickly. Some of the skirts Rachel likes online are around $50 to $60!
I was at a thrift store one day and found a short skirt for a grown up. I immediately liked the lacy fabric with smoky blue color, it had nice lining and a price tag of $4... I was sold! It will cost way more than that to make a skirt like this from scratch.
{You will need}
1" elastic for the waist
Matching thread
{How to}
1. Cut off the original waist band.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Modes4U Christmas Fabric Giveaway!
Hello everyone! Do you remember the reversible cross body/tote bag tutorial I shared a while ago using fabric by Modes4U?
Guess what?? They are offering a Christmas fabric bundle giveaway to Tea Rose Home readers!
Mmm... my favorite is the fabric in the bottom left corner with the deer head. That is so pretty! Do you see something you like? What would you make with them? This giveaway is world wide, so go ahead and enter it doesn't matter where you live! I will run the giveaway until October 1st.
Modes4U Christmas Fabric Giveaway
I will announce the winner the morning of October 2nd. Good luck everyone!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Putting Together a Sewing Room!
I have been collecting miniature furniture and things for a doll house for several years. One day I was re-organizing my sewing room and realized that I have everything I need to do this project.
You read the title and probably thought I am organizing my sewing room, didn't you?... Gotcha! Actually, I am creating a much more smaller version of a sewing room. I don't think I can even call it "a doll house", since I am using a small wooden suitcase as a room. I am going to write several separate posts about the progress for the project, because it would be fun to talk about decorations and details as I put it together. Today, I am going to talk about the base: The room.
I guess you can use many different things as a "room" when you are creating a doll house or display. Remember the Tiny Tin Bedroom I did a while ago? I used a candy tin can as a room.
I covered hardware with washi-tape and spray painted the suitcase first...
Michael said, "Mom, why is everything is so white? You can't see anything."
Rachel came in and in a nasally voice, said, "Mooom, this is going to be too white. You need more color." Then she cut herself off, "Oh, oh!", she exclaimed. "They are SO tiny and cuuute!" she said excitedly in a high pitch voice while fawning over the furniture and decorations. Can I have it when you are done??
My response to both was, "I painted them white because I LOVE white! I am going to add colors as I go, now leave me alone, this is my project."
They both laughed. Naughty kids, they love to tease their momma. It is no secret that I love white. When you come to my house you will see lots of white. My friends tease me, but hey, everybody has their preferences right? I love the clean, calm and peaceful feeling I get when I am surrounded by whites. I add colors with decorations, just like painting a white canvas with different colors of paint. I wonder when my kids grow up and they have their own place, will every single room will be painted... hahaha. :)
Going back to the doll house... after the paint was completely dried, I moved on to putting up "wallpaper". I just used a single sheet of scrapbook paper that is white...wait, wait, in my own defense. it has embossing texture. I still wanted a white wall but with texture. In the doll house room, the scale of the floral design is very large. That's exactly how I wanted it. I think it gives a subtle, yet dramatic effect to the room.
I then moved on to do the floor. I wanted the look of hardwood floors, but when I was looking at the "wood floor" at Hobby Lobby in their doll house section, it costs way more than I was willing to spend. Again, I turned to scrapbook paper and I like how it turned out! The width of the planks on the paper was way too wide, so I just drew some lines to make the plank narrower. Simple easy solution, huh?
Posted by Sachiko at 5:00 AM 6 comments
Labels: craft , doll house , fun , sewing , white
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Classic & Antique Auto Insurance in California
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Not all classic or antique cars are used the same, so we will work with you to select the appropriate classic car insurance policy to accommodate coverage needs, miles driven, vehicle age, and vehicle modifications to make sure you have the best policy to meet your needs.
Talk with us today to identify the best combination of coverage, value, and price for you. We can help make sure your insurance continually meets your needs.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have a bias for action, always have. This need to do is becoming particularly obvious at this time, especially with all the talk that goes on.
We think together a lot, more ideas bubble to the surface, more desire to see something good done.
We live in an age where there should be no excuses, no reasons why we cannot act - on our dreams, on our work, on making something amazing happen.
That is why it's all the more disappointing when companies do not embrace the tools to lean forward into the issues, communicate better, more effectively, with customers. The opportunity is right when something goes wrong. At the time of this writing, I have no power and have been on hold with PECO energy for an hour. I'm hanging up.
This is not the way to connect with customers in a noisy world. There is no amount of marketing material the energy provider will be able to throw at me to make me do something. The time to act is now, on the customer service line. And the nice messaging on low emissions goes out the window when hundreds or thousands of customers are running their generators because they know they'll get nowhere with you.
There is an action as a reaction to lack of action, if that makes sense. Not doing anything is also an action and it has consequences - for people and in this case, the environment.
But I don't like to dwell on the negative, I do believe in karma and I like the good kind - for me and for the rest of us.
I wanted to introduce you to this gem from Tom Asacker, who's been an inspiration through his work and in the comments to this blog recently. It's called A Little Less Conversation - connecting with customers in a noisy world. It's written as a conversation between Tom and a business executive after an event.
Some pearls of wisdom (in bold), with my own additional thoughts:
- you can no longer benchmark and model the past in order to be successful in the future - just because you can, it does not mean you should. If you haven't read it, I urge you to read the conversation we had with Frank Eliason from Comcast.
Frank has given me hope, the company is backing him up with action. This is important to establish a connection. There is no loyalty program that will make up for letting down your customers. There is no stronger trust than that acquired by coming through.
- to construct their views of reality, people combine what they sense with what they already think, feel, and believe - truth is subjective, and that's why it's so hard to regain trust once you lost it. It goes to memory.
- the most valuable and scarce thing is a strong brand protected by an organization with unique capabilities to appeal to customers' changing priorities and preferences and ultimately, make them happy - do I need to elaborate? If you don't know what would make your customers happy, ask them. They'll tell you.
- people don't dislike change, not really. What they abhor is the unknown, because they can't envision it - no vision, no action. Hence the importance of communications. So that we're clear, listening is a big part of communications, or you won't know that communication in fact did take place.
- branding is about creating your essence by working with customers to uniquely add value to their lives - value is what the customer thinks, not the company.
- you are what you do (and why you do it) - are you doing the right things?
There are many more. I wanted to give you what resonated the most with me. I'm with Tom, we need a little less conversation. I say we need more "agent". What about you?


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Thursday, June 3, 2010
Announcing Session #41: Craft Beers Inspired by Homebrewing
While we are thrilled at the opportunity to host the 41st "Session" and enamored at the number of participants each month, we approached the act of selecting an appropriate topic with some trepidation. To us, the topic needs to be specific enough to give direction and inspiration, but not be overly constraining. It needed to be focused, but also general. Demanding, yet welcoming.
As demonstrated in prior Sessions, topics typically come from the host's area of passion – something they have a strong affinity towards. For Tom and I, the real pathway in our appreciation of Craft Beer has been through the hobby of homebrewing. Not only has this hobby fostered yet another reason for two geographically-separated brothers to collaborate (the core concept for the Lug Wrench blog being "a fraternal bond over beer"), it was through homebrewing where we learned what makes a marginal beer and what makes an exceptional beer. It was the lauching pad for how we came to admire (and sometimes fanaticize) about "good" beer. So during our discussions of potential topics, the debate kept coming back to homebrewing and how craft beer is connected to the amateur brewing community.
In the end, it wasn't until we got a little friendly nudging by Stan and Jay that our topic for the 41st Session coalesced. The chosen topic: Craft Beers Inspired By Homebrewing. How has homebrewing had an affect on the commercial beer we have all come to love? Feel free to take the topic in any direction your imagination leads you.
Write about a beer that has its roots in homebrewing. Write about a commercial beer that originated from a homebrew.
Write about a professional brewer you admire who got their start in homebrewing before they went pro. Write about a professional brewer who still homebrews in their free time.
Write about a Pro-Am beer tasted either at a festival or a brewpub. Write about an Amateur / Professional Co-op you've had the pleasure of experiencing (such as The Green Dragon Project).
Write about commercial brewers using "Homebrewing" as part of the marketing. Write about the Sam Adams LongShot beers, whether good or bad.
Write in the first person. Write in the third person. Have someone else write it for you.
Just write about it.
And on July 2nd, share your contribution with us (either as a comment to this announcement or to our post on that day). If you don't have a regular blog, no problem - email your story to us and we'll be happy to post it for you. Then after the first Friday in July has passed, we'll round up all the contributions, add a little commentary, and post the collection for everyone to enjoy.
Don't just be a passive reader - be a contributor.
Lastly, a quick thanks goes out to Stan Hieronymus and Jay Brooks for organizing, instigating, and directing the Session for the past 3+ years. Your guidance and perseverance are appreciated more than you probably know.
-The Wallace Brothers
"May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead."
-Old Irish Toast
14 comments:
Here is my contribution to July's session:ReplyDelete
Here's my (early) contribution to the Session:ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting!
My post is up here. Thanks for hosting!ReplyDelete
My blog is up at BeerTaster.ca now, thanks for hosting and for an interesting topic.ReplyDelete
I'm in. My post is here. Cheers to the host.ReplyDelete
My post is up:ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting, good luck, and take care.
About a recipe that's proved popular:ReplyDelete
Happy 4th - Stan
Thanks for hosting and great topic.ReplyDelete
Here is my contribution. Thanks for hosting.ReplyDelete
Here's my entry: http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/2010/july/session41whatReplyDelete
Thanks for running this month's edition!
Here is my submission: http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/2010/july/session41whatReplyDelete
Sorry if I am double posting. Having some web issues.
It's a day late, but here's my submission. Thank you for hosting. Your topic brought back some personal memories.ReplyDelete
Here's mine, I was without my laptop for a couple of days dealing with a family issue at my in-laws, so was just able to finish it.ReplyDelete
Thanks again for hosting,


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USA Today November 25, 2012
Army rushing equipment to fight IEDs in Afghanistan
By Tom Vanden Brook
11:28PM EST November 25. 2012 - WASHINGTON — Shielding troops on foot from buried bombs and killing fleeing insurgents continue to preoccupy Pentagon researchers charged with fielding new gadgets to Afghanistan even as the war there winds down.
Cheap, simple bombs formed from fertilizer remain the No. 1 killer of U.S.troops in Afghanistan, where 68,000 soldiers and Marines remain. They're scheduled to come home by 2014. Insurgents, however, continue to plant bombs in record numbers, and agencies such as the Army's Rapid Equipping Force struggle to keep pace.
The military has mitigated the danger to troops from roadside bombs. Electronic devices jam the signals that detonate some improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and armored trucks known as Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles protect them from bombs that do explode.
"But goat paths and bridges are still a problem," says Army Col. Peter Newell, who commands the Rapid Equipping Force. "The insurgent's not going to quit."
So the military is rushing several new technologies to the battlefield of Afghanistan:
• The Minotaur. A remote-controlled, small front-end loader, the Minotaur has attachments that detonate bombs sensitive to weight and radar that penetrates the ground to detect buried IEDs. The Minotaur helps clear small lanes of bombs so that troops can proceed.
• A small, portable "line charge." This device consists of a small rocket that propels a rope filled with explosives about 80 feet. The blast clears a footpath about 1 foot wide, exposing trip wires and buried bombs or disabling them.
• A tiny camera-guided missile that can be fired at insurgents hiding on rooftops, inside buildings or fleeing in cars and small trucks. The Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System — about the size of a man's forearm — weighs just over 5 pounds and has a range of more than 6 miles.
Newell's group is also deploying mobile laboratories with small forges that can spin out devices within hours. One recent success is an adapter to recharge batteries used in hand-held mine detectors. Soldiers are encouraged, Newell says, to knock on the lab's door with ideas for new gear.
"We want to develop the little MacGyvers out there," Newell said, referring to the TV action hero from the late 1980s with a penchant for crafting gadgets.
Fighting insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan has required foot soldiers to adapt to rapid changes in enemy tactics, the "field craft" born of necessity for infantry troops, says John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a defense policy organization.
"You can do rapid innovation with infantry," Pike said. "The kit is small; it's easy to fabricate. It's not like they're creating a new helicopter. This skill is one of the great take-aways from this war. I hope they don't allow it to atrophy."
© Copyright 2012, Gannett


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- Protection index
- Bulbs
- MAX power
- Lumen
- 800
- Color Temperature
- Size
- Color/Finish
Bulb color gradation
The color temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (K) and indicates whether the light has a warm tonality (2700K to 3000K), natural (4000K), cold (5000K) or cold (5000K). The following is the colored spectrum corresponding to the most common color temperature in the lighting engine.
There are many lightning strikes. The most common screw connections (typical of the old bulbs) are E14 (small), E27 (normal) and E40 (special lamps). 220V spotlights generally use the GU10 attachment, featuring two bayonet pins that are to be engaged and rotated to be fixed to the bulb holder. The 12V spotlights generally have a bipod (GA, GU4, GU53, GY6.35, G9). The R7S is used for linear halogen lamps and is available in two versions, one for 7.8cm and 11.8cm long lamps. T5 and T8 attachments are used for linear or small fluorescent tubes. The GX53 has two pins with a large bayonet attachment.
If the lamp you are buying is not equipped with integrated LED, choose the right light bulb in our category:
IP - Protection Index
You do not know what IP is and what is it for? IP is the protection index and classifies the degrees of protection of enclosures for electrical equipment against penetration of solid foreign objects and liquids. The image below helps you to understand the different degrees of protection and what you need.
Who are we?
Light is an established lighting store. Has a wide range of products, from the inside and from the outside, in order to satisfy an increasingly demanding clientele. Point-of-sale, over products of the best brands, you can find articles of our own production and, if necessary, you can request the customization.
In the large show room you can view over 3000 different items available and more than 100,000 in the catalogue.
Our policy of selling online is different from that in the home, and our suppliers impose limits on the discounts for sale online. Please do not hesitate to contact us to receive, with private negotiation, your good discount or come to meet us at home.
- Products of the best brands
- Products of own production
- Custom products
- Lamps and chandeliers
- Indoor products
- Exterior products
Orders are accepted only in written form, or by fax, or via the Internet (online). The customer sends the order via Internet will receive, at the end of the procedure, a notice confirming the order by electronic mail (E-mail) with the indication of the order number; assuming that after sending the order, does not appear (a few minutes) the order number, the proposal is considered as not accepted, for all legal purposes, although for accounting purposes, administrative or lack of product.
All prices shown on the website are including VAT. The prices can be modified at any time, without notice.
All products are covered by the conventional guarantee of the producer and by the guarantee of 24 months for defects of conformity. To qualify for warranty service, the Customer must keep the purchase document as it will be shown in case of request for assistance.The guarantee of 24 months applies to products that present a conformity defect, provided the product is used correctly, in accordance with
its intended use and as provided in the attached technical documentation. This guarantee is reserved to the private Consumer, or to the person
carries out the purchase without indicating in order form a reference to VAT. In case of conformity defect, we will
the repair/replacement.The timing of replacement or repair of the product depend exclusively on the policies of the manufacturer.The article for which you require a warranty claim must be returned by the Customer complete in all its parts (any documentation and
accessory equipment: manuals, etc...), also to avoid damage during transport, we recommend treating the packaging.It is understood that the customer, where the manufacturer provides, you can also contact directly to the service center present in the area, of course
always with proof of original purchase.
The payment can be made in the following ways:bank Transfer, whose details will be communicated in time at which you submit the order, and, of course, you will have chosen this form of
payment. The crediting of the amount takes place, normally within 3/4 days.
Marking in this way, you will pay directly to the postman or the courier. Keep in mind that this type of service has an additional cost that is in
function of the total of the order, and not less than 4.00€. You may also be required for only some of the products and for orders that do not exceed the
500 euro, for higher amounts, the additional cost will be communicated to you from time to time.ATTENTION: if you choose payment on delivery, to the delivery, not collect or refuse the package without a valid reason, we will still
the charge of the shipping costs both for the outward and for the return of the item at our office. Therefore, if you want to cancel an order with cash payment must be made promptly because, once the goods have been shipped,
however, you will need to pay the expenses indicated above.
In the catalog published on the site WWW.LUCEPIUMOLISE.COM because' access and opportunity' to submit orders online change in real time the availability of the product, we do not guarantee the certainty of the immediate availability of the ordered goods. If this should occur you will be contacted and we will notify you the waiting time. In this case, you can decide whether or not to process the order even partially, whether to wait for the arrival of the article not available or cancel the order. In the case in which, in the form of the product, and have indicated the waiting time does not receive any communication as you agree to this condition.
The technical information included in the site WWW.LUCEPIUMOLISE.COM are obtained from the information published from the houses manufacturers of the assets inserted in our catalogue. Therefore, we reserve the faculty of modify/adapt the technical and dimensional product catalog, as will be announced by the producers, even without notice.
The goods are sent in free port, assured with I debit in invoice; in the case in which the goods were shipped carriage forward, behind indication of the customer, the risk is to be borne by the customer from the delivery of the goods to the carrier. At the time of delivery of the goods, the customer must verify the integrity' of packages and correspondence quantitative and qualitative as indicated in the communication, via email, sent by us to process your order. In the case of discrepancy, the same should' be reported on the waybill accompanying the shipment and confirmed within 48 hours by sending a specific communication via fax or email to our offices. While the packaging is intact, the marches should still be verified. Every report made without following the procedure and the terms mentioned will not be taken into account. For each statement, the customer assumes responsibility' full of what is said.
We will not be held responsible for any damage, direct and/or indirettao arising from sale of goods and services offered in the catalog published on the site WWW.LUCEPIUMOLISE.COM even for delayed and/or non-delivery of the product,' for correspondence of goods to the specifications published in site, nor for any other fact to us not directly attributable. It is understood that the non-delivery of goods implies, of course, a full refund on the part of the LIGHT is MORE of FRANCIS COLARUSSO of any sum paid by the customer.
For any inquiries, both regarding your order and for both information and or clarification, you can contact us by the following ways:e-mail: email@example.com:
Tel. +39 0865 814059
Fax +39 0865 813881Posta:
86090 Santa Maria del Molise (IS)
Pursuant to the art. 5 D. Decree 206/05 , if the customer is a consumer, has the right to withdraw from the purchase contract for any reason, without penalty. Exclusions: The right of withdrawal applies to natural persons acting for purposes not referable to their professional activity. Are therefore excluded from the right of withdrawal, purchases made by retailers and companies. The right of withdrawal can not be exercised if the product is not intact, namely:lack of the original packaging;in the absence of integral elements of the product (accessories, cables, manuals, etc.); for damage to the product. ModalitàPer exercise the right of withdrawal within 14 (fourteen) calendar days from the receipt of the parcel, the Customer must give notice by email to firstname.lastname@example.com, indicating the reason and specifying if you want the replacement of the product, even with a different value, or the refund of the amount paid. LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO will then authorize the return by sending an email to the customer, bringing the data to the submission of the return. LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO will replace the returned product or to order the restitution of the sum paid, according to the request of the Customer. For the amount paid includes both the expenditure is postage, if any, to the Customer to send the product that you want to make.The article or articles to which you make must be placed in the same box in which they were received, which must be well closed and sealed, and returned within 7 days from the receipt of the email which authorised the return from a part of the LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO at the following address:
LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO
86090 Santa Maria del Molise (IS)
The product and its packaging must be intact with all its parts and not used or tampered with (including any documentation and accessory equipment). The return of products that are damaged, used in the least, deteriorated or lacking in accessories or original equipment and still not resalable will not be accepted by LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO and will be returned to the sender with an increase in transport costs. We will not accept returns of items where the original packaging is opened or damaged in any way. LIGHT is MORE of FRANCESCO COLARUSSO after the receipt of the product or products returned, if it is consistent to what is described above, will proceed with the refund of the amount paid, or the sending of the new product to the customer within a maximum of 14 (fourteen) calendar days.
whose details will be communicated in time at which you submit the order, and, of course, you will have chosen this form of payment. The crediting of the amount takes place, normally within 3/4 days.
MARK (at the moment not accepted for technical problems)
in this way, you will pay directly to the courier. The service has an additional cost which is a function of the total of the order, and not less than 3,00 euro. Can only be requested for some products and for orders that do not exceed 650,00 euro. For orders of amounts exceeding 650,00 euro, the cost of marking will be communicated to you from time to time. Once you have accepted the order you will receive an email confirming the possibility to pay directly at the reception of the goods. The total will be increased by the additional cost which will be communicated to you always in your confirmation email.ATTENTION: if you choose payment on delivery, to the delivery, not collect or refuse the package without a valid reason, we will still charge shipping costs both for the outward and for the return of the item at our office. Therefore, if you want to cancel an order with cash payment must be made promptly because, once the goods have been shipped, however you will have to pay the expenses indicated above.LEUCOS - SD-101, recessed Spotlight, square.
Shipment, for goods in stock, will be made by courier BARTOLINI within 2/3 days from receipt of payment. At the time of shipment you will receive an email alert.
Upon receipt of the goods, before signing the receipt to the courier, it is necessary to check the status of the individual parcels, and ensure that the same have not suffered damage. In the positive case you need to write on the receipt of the courier, what you have found (the package is broken, opened, missing packages, etc).
This procedure is necessary because, once it has been signed by the bubble to the courier without any dispute, even if, later, you encounter anomalies, we can not intervene as we cannot complain to the courier of the damage and then ask for the refund of the insured amount, which does not allow us to change the article.
If you want to the delivery plan, you can request the cost of which varies depending on the weight and the volume of the individual parcels. In this case, and only when' charged the cost of shipping the goods travel at our risk. In case of theft/loss, we are committed to send a new product and, if the same were to be unavailable and/or exhausted, propose a different product, but with equivalent characteristics, with faculty for the client not to accept this new product and request the issuance of credit note relating to the product. In the event that the carrier is responsible in any way by the customer, we will not be responsible for any loss and/or damage of the product from the moment of delivery of the goods to the carrier. Delivery times are normally 2/3 working days (depending on the type of shipping requested), may be subject to change for reasons of force majeure or because of traffic conditions and traffic in general or by act of the Authorities. The delivery, unless otherwise agreed, will take place in the normal working hours of all the days, except holidays, from Monday to Friday.
For each order will be charged a contribution fee, which is calculated by the system based on the items purchased and their quantities. Before you confirm your order, you will be shown a special page which will be shown the cost of shipment and the relevant courier will make the delivery; If you believe that these expenses are not appropriate just to leave the order.
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HELENA — Montana's chief federal judge will retire following an investigation into an email he forwarded that included a racist joke involving President Barack Obama.
U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull had previously announced he would step down as chief circuit judge and take a reduced caseload, but he informed the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that he now intends to fully retire May 3.
The appellate court posted a statement by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski on its website Tuesday announcing Cebull had submitted the retirement letter.
The letter comes as the appellate court's Judicial Council issued a March 15 order on the investigation into the February 2012 email.
The council's order will remain confidential during an appeal period, the statement said.
A Cebull aide directed calls for comment to Clerk of Court Tyler Gilman, who did not immediately return a call Wednesday. Appellate Court spokesman David Madden also did not immediately return a call.
Cebull wrote a letter of apology to Obama and filed a complaint against himself after The Great Falls Tribune published the contents of the email, which included a joke about bestiality and the president's mother.
The Billings judge forwarded the email from his chambers to six other people on Feb. 20, the newspaper reported.
Two other groups also demanded an investigation, with one, the Montana Human Rights Network, starting an online petition calling for Cebull's resignation.
Kim Abbott, the network's co-director, said Wednesday she was pleased with the announcement but hopes to see the results of the investigation.
"The email really called into question his ability to treat women and people of color fairly, so we're happy Montanans will get to appear before a different judge," Abbott said.
The complaints were referred to a special committee appointed by the appellate court to investigate whether Cebull's email constituted misconduct.
Kozinski's statement said the committee submitted a report to the Judicial Council in December after "a thorough and extensive investigation" that included interviews with witnesses and Cebull and going over related documents. The council issued its order based on that report.
The statement says the Judicial Council will not comment further until Cebull's retirement is effective.
Cebull previously said he would take senior status March 18, which would have allowed another judge to be appointed while he continued working with a reduced caseload.
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus then formed a committee to replace Cebull and another judge taking senior status, with Baucus recently recommending that Obama appoint state District Judge Susan Watters of Billings to take Cebull's spot on the bench.
Cebull was a Billings attorney for nearly 30 years before becoming a U.S. magistrate in Great Falls in 1998.
He became a district judge in 2001 and has served as chief judge of the District of Montana since 2008.
Cebull's notable cases include his block of reopening of the U.S. border to cattle in 2005, two years after the U.S. banned Canadian cattle and beef products over fears of mad-cow disease. The 9th Circuit overturned that decision.
Cebull also presided over a lawsuit filed by landowners against Exxon Mobil Corp. over the cleanup following last year's pipeline spill of 1,500 gallons into the Yellowstone River.
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My inspiration for this "Stripe a Cord" (short for corduroy!) outfit stemmed from necessity! My daughter has very particular taste when it comes to clothes, especially the material and the fit. I had to carefully pick every item, but now this little drama queen is ready for an evening out with her daddy, looking fashionable in her jeggings, cowl-neck dolman tunic, and stylish corduroy jacket. Comfort is key for this outfit, and the stretchy jeggings (made using an existing pair of leggings as a pattern) are her current favorite, especially since she can put her boots on without worrying about her pants bunching in the boot!
The sweet striped dolman top is made out of lightweight jersey knit. It had the perfect drape for adding a cowl neck, so with a few alterations to a pattern made from an existing shirt, the shirt hangs maturely at the front in a little cowl while keeping the stripes horizontal. A band at the bottom of the shirt and at each sleeve opening finished it off, making it much more than a regular t-shirt! The material is super soft (VERY important to the little fashionista!) and such a cheerful yellow. The neckline was finished with a serger and then hemmed using a double needle for a professional finishing touch. Because a cowl neck dips lower than a regular t-shirt neckline, I made an undershirt from her dad's t-shirt to keep it modest.
The crème de la crème of this outfit is the cute and comfy corduroy jacket. Based off of Simplicity 2526, I altered the pattern to create a more full (almost "skirted") bottom with pleated front panels, and a pleated back panel. I also added a polka-dot pleated lining to the jacket, polka-dot side pockets, and the front faux pockets have the same polka-dot fabric on the underside. I completed the look with a row of yellow and white polka-dot fabric-covered buttons down the front. She loved this jacket so much and insisted on wearing it everywhere, including napping on the way to the photo shoot and adding her own touch of wrinkles and drool to the ensemble ;)
To see more photos and learn more about the construction, visit my blog, The Crafty Cupboard!
www.cathgrace.com) for more photos and details, as there is just too much to really capture here.
Winter W3--Collegiate Cool
I love the vintage look of capri pants paired with a cropped jacket! If you do too there are more pics in my blog la inglesita
Little Kids Grow--Vintage Flavors


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Save the sablefish (also known as black cod) and help scientists by counting the fish in video clips.
Want more marine-themed citizen science projects? We've got you covered!
Sablefish on soft bottom habitat. Scientists call it Anoplopoma fimbria, fishers might know it as the sablefish, while some chefs call it the Black Cod. Found hovering just above the muddy North Pacific seabed, you may have enjoyed one down at the Moby Dick restaurant or whatever your favorite seafood restaurant is called. The sablefish—a yummy opportunistic feeder known for its buttery taste has been harvested from US waters since the late 1800s. In Alaska, heavy foreign fishing depleted the sablefish stocks through the seventies until the US took control of the waters in 1976 and phased out foreign fishing. After that, the fishing season began to shorten and the number of fishers actually increased. When this happens a fishery produces a lot of poor quality fish—the outcome is an unstable stock. In 1995, conservation managers implemented a program that sought to more strictly regulate the Alaska commercial fishery; it set limits for each fisher, but within a longer season. This decreased the harvest of immature fish, which meant those fish had a good chance to reproduce at least once. Now a citizen science program called Project Digital Fishers needs your help, and it may keep the sablefish on the table at the Moby Dick. It is a project that enlists public support to run a second trial for researchers, and for computer scientists as well. For the latter, an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria has developed an algorithm that can "count" fish. He will use this campaign to ground truth his software. This video on YouTube shows this in action. As researchers continue to monitor the resource, they hope to inform careful management of the stock. Jodie Walsh, the research coordinator for the Center for Global Studies at the University of Victoria in Canada, says, "A research group at the Marine Science Institute (Institut de Ciènces del Mar) in Barcelona, Spain, investigates biological rhythms in various species around the world. By better understanding species behavior they hope to help in marine resource management and provide advice to improve fishing practices. And Carolina Doya, a PhD student working with Dr. Jacopo Aguzzi, uses NEPTUNE Canada cameras to study biological rhythms of fish in Barkley Canyon." Counting fish in the field of view of the camera, and using specialized statistical tools, will enable her to see if fish movements and/or behavior can be predicted in relation to known natural cycles. When an experiment returns a broad variety of results, researchers typically have to run the numbers again, which in this instance means they have to review the film footage of a submarine transect once more, while counting the number of Black Cod seen in a specified time. The result will be punched into a formula and extrapolated out for a region or field—which produces an accurate estimate of the number of fish in a population. So now you can contribute to real science—compare apples to apples (or in this case sablefish to sablefish) by counting the sablefish exactly as the research crew is doing in their labs. This will save an enormous amount of time and money, and it will contribute to both computer and environmental research.
Screenshot of Digital Fishers page. You have to create an account, and the controls of the digital interface take a bit of getting used to. After a few awkward attempts, I got the hang of it, had learned to identify the species and was counting for the A team. The website says you only have to count for 15 seconds, but each video clip runs for almost a minute. After those first few attempts I settled down and actually began to anticipate seeing a sablefish—I counted as many as six in a 60 second clip, and sometimes none appeared. To beat the first level you have to complete 10 'annotations' or views, but to advance to the third level you have to complete 24! Digital Fishers is currently counting sablefish, but Walsh says, "We have also looked at crabs, Mapping Seafloor, Trawling, thornyhead rockfish and deep-sea ecosystems, or sometimes we just show some of the video that has been collected and 'digital fishers' annotate many other species in our general campaigns." Digital fishers hail from Canada, US, Spain, France, Germany, South Africa, Oman, Switzerland, Colombia, Czech Republic, Australia, Iceland, Italy, so anyone can compete. (The sablefish is found in UK waters as well—there it is called the blue cod, bluefish, candlefish or coal cod, and in Canada it's known as the coalfish, beshow or skil.) The sablefish project will likely run through July. Resources:How to measure a countNOAA FishWatchTop Image:NOAA Photo LibraryBottom Image: Digital Fishers/University of Victoria


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Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel says he's making a football comeback.
Manziel announced Wednesday that he'll participate in the developmental Spring League in Austin , Texas, which will play from March 28 to April 15. The league is designed for players hoping to impress NFL scouts. The league confirmed Manziel will participate.
Manziel won the Heisman as a freshman with Texas A&M in 2012 and left school after his sophomore season for the NFL. He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns, but was cut in 2016 and hasn't played since.
In a recent interview with "Good Morning America" , Manziel said he's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has stopped drinking alcohol. In 2016, a domestic assault charge against Manziel in Dallas was dismissed after Manziel took an anger management course and participated in the NFL's substance-abuse program. He was also suspended four games for a substance-abuse violation even though he wasn't under contract.
"Can't wait to get back on the field and show NFL scouts what I can do!" Manziel tweeted Wednesday.
Manziel played nine games with the Browns in two seasons, passing for 1 ,675 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
"Football has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Sometimes you take for granted how much you value something until it's gone. My goal is to make it back to the NFL and I realize I have to earn that privilege," Manziel said in a statement provided by the Spring League.
This version has been updated to correct that Manziel was cut by the Browns in 2016.


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On Monday May 27th, about 100 activists in Istanbul staged a sit-in at Gezi Park, the last bit of green space in a largely commercial area, in order to protest the uprooting of its nearly 600 trees to make way for a restored Ottoman army barracks and a shopping mall.
This is part of Prime Minister Erdogan's urban redevelopment project of Taksim Square, to which Gezi Park is adjacent. Protestors succeeded in peacefully halting the razing until the end of the week, when police began to fire tear gas canisters at them. By Friday, tens of thousands of leftists, other opposition members, and even members of Erdogan's own party joined the protestors, outraged by the brutal and disproportionate behavior of the police.
Protests escalated and spread quickly, and were met with an enormous demonstration of force from police, who used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. While most protests have been nonviolent, some protestors have resorted to violence to express their grievances, turning what were peaceful demonstrations into riots on a scale unseen during Erdogan's tenure. Since Friday, protests have spread to 67 of Turkey's provinces. The over three million participating protesters represent a wide spectrum of ideologies, walks of life, and religious sects.
Protecting the park is only the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lurks a deep frustration over the democratically elected Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian and conservative Islamist regime. Turkish citizens are angry at the government's lack of transparency and frustrated that Erdogan does not consult them before making decisions—like the privatization of public space and the razing of Gezi Park—and going ahead with their implementation. This paternalistic style was exemplified when Erdogan stated last week that the protesters could do whatever they wanted, but the government made a decision and would carry it out. He demonstrates a lack of interest in engaging in meaningful dialogue with those who do not share his views, evincing an attitude of "it's my way or the highway."
Citizens have a wide range of grievances—from the new laws restricting abortion and the sale of alcohol to the ban on kissing in public—but what the various parties have in common is the sense that they are not being listened to, that they are living in a hollow democracy. Turkey has become a country where the media self-censors, peaceful demonstrators and dissenters are prosecuted on the absurd grounds of membership in terrorist organizations, and a majority rules over, and not in collaboration with, a minority. These demonstrations have no single explicit political agenda; they are an expression of deep anger.
Erdogan's Response
Last weekend, Erdogan acknowledged that in some instances police behavior towards protesters was extreme, but that seemed as far as he was willing to go. He has made numerous statements accusing the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of using the redevelopment of Gezi Park as a tool to provoke citizens into rioting as a means of furthering their own ideological agenda. He has also blamed protests on both domestic and foreign extremist groups aiming to bring down his government.
Erdogan continues to display this hubris, and in the midst of the worst protests during his decade in power, he has gone on a poorly timed (or perhaps perfectly timed, as far as he is concerned) visit to North Africa, leaving other, more conciliatory-minded government officials to deal with the issue, despite the fact that the riots are increasingly aimed against Erdogan himself.
President Gul's Response
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has butted heads with Erdogan, who appears to think that free and fair elections are the lone component of a true democracy. Gul, on the other hand, has insisted that "Democracy does not mean elections alone. There can be nothing more natural for the expression of various views, various situations and objections through a variety of ways besides elections," he added, praising peaceful protestors for exercising their democratic rights.
Upon hearing of these comments, Erdogan responded, "I don't know what the president said, but for me democracy is all about the ballot box." The term-limited Erdogan and Gul are expected to face off for the presidency in Turkey's next election. Erdogan may have strong support from religious conservatives, but in light of recent events and his not-so-subtle efforts to assign more power to the presidential position he is seeking, we will see how his version of democracy plays out for him at the ballot box.
Sarah Gold is an intern at Foreign Policy in Focus.


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There are two repositories I'm creating here:
Common Steps
This completes the creation of the x86_64 repository.
Client Configuration
Please refer to the steps on this page on how to point your other machines to use the internal repositories.
Additional Information
The rsync commands above can be re-run again at any time to update the repository.
Then re-run the createrepo command with --update, for example:
You could setup a cron job to perform these commands daily/weekly/monthly if so desired.
The rsync commands above use an Australian based mirror, you might want to locate a mirror closer to you.
Guides > Other > YUM > RepoForge / RPMforge >


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BROOKLYN, NY – A local resident is attempting to have a hidden subway tunnel excavated for the historical secrets it might hold.
Bob Diamond, founder of the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association, was always fascinated with trains. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he had heard rumors of a forgotten subway tunnel that had been sealed up in the 1800's and struck off any transit maps. The tunnel supposedly houses a steam locomotive lying on its side, which contains pages of John Wilkes Booth's lost diary.
As expected, city officials attempted to dissuade him, saying that people had looked before but never succeeded. However, Diamond discovered an old scroll that showed blueprints of the Atlantic Tunnel. The paper featured what Diamond took to be the location of a manhole that could access the tunnel. He soon found the manhole right where it was marked, sitting in the middle of a street. After crawling down, lo and behold, he found it!
It was built in 1844 by the Long Island Rail Road, but the tunnel was sealed off in 1861 when the railroad became less profitable. It is a half-mile long and is officially the world's oldest subway tunnel. Diamond has since helped restore it and conducts monthly tours.
The catch? While the tunnel was indeed empty, one end was bricked up. Diamond firmly believes that the historical treasures lie just beyond the wall, but the Department of Transit will not issue him a permit to excavate: "There is no indication that the project — with no development or repair purpose — would merit the impact of disruptive, long-term lane closures."
A documentary is being made on Diamond's quest, called What's Behind the Wall. The filmmakers hope to raise enough money to push through the excavation and film what is indeed behind the brick wall. Check out the trailer below, which features an interview with Bob Diamond:


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The Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) is an independent statutory body established under the Consumer Council of Fiji Act -1976 (Cap 235). The Council, as a watchdog protects the rights and interests of consumers by promoting a fair and just delivery of goods and services.
The Consumer Council is primarily an advocacy organization, conducting rigorous research and policy analysis on key consumer issues. CCoF's insight into consumer need is a powerful tool for influencing decision-makers to bring about change. The Council protects the vulnerable groups such as rural poor, physically and mentally challenged, children and women by identifying and articulating the policy issues that are of importance to the consumers.
To build a society of informed and responsible consumers in which everyone is treated fairly, obtains value for money and is able to exercise their consumer rights
Make consumer voice heard and make it count.
The Council is committed to achieving positive change for consumers.
As a small organization with limited resources, the Council plays an active role as a catalyst and facilitator for positive change in the marketplace in a professional, impartial and ethical manner. The Council believes in campaigning fearlessly to change the policies and practices that adversely affect consumer interests; maintain a highly disciplined result-oriented focus that maximizes impact for consumers; maintain objectivity in resolving consumer complaints without fear or favor; and build a strong financial management and sound operating procedures.
The Council is committed to achieving positive change for consumers. As a small organization with limited resources, the Council will play an active role as a catalyst and facilitator for positive change in the marketplace. Everything that we do during the implementation of this Strategic Plan will reflect our core values. Professional, impartial and ethical in all our dealings. Accessible and helpful in sharing our knowledge. Transparent, accountable and consistent in our approach. Collaborative, innovative, proactive and focused on achieving outstanding results. Dedicated to learning, team work and mutual respect. Foster open and honest communication. Value new ideas and seek ways of doing things better.
Campaign fearlessly to change the policies and practices that adversely affect consumer interests; Maintain a highly disciplined result-oriented focus that maximises impact for consumers; Maintain objectivity in resolving consumer complaints without fear or favour; and Build a strong financial management and sound operating procedures.
The Consumer Council of Fiji (CCF) is a statutory body established under the Consumer Council Act (Cap 235). The Council, as a watchdog protects the rights and interests of consumers by promoting a fair and just delivery of goods and services. First and foremost, the Consumer Council is an advocacy organization, conducting rigorous research and policy analysis on key consumer issues. CCF's insight into consumer need is a powerful tool for influencing decision-makers to bring about change. The Council protects the vulnerable groups such as rural poor, physically and mentally challenged, children and women by identifying and articulating the policy issues that are of importance to the consumers.3.2 Board members are appointed by the Minister for Industry and Trade for a term or terms as the Minister may determine.
The Chairperson of the Council reports to the Minister.The Board of Directors appoints the Chief Executive Officer to lead and manage the Council affairs within the legal framework and by maintaining high ethical standards.
From corporate governance perspective, a Board Charter is in place that sets the rules and procedures within which the Board functions.
Section 6 of the Consumer Council Act stipulates the functions of the Council. The Council is required to do such acts and things it considers necessary or expedient to ensure that the interests of the consumers of goods and services are promoted and protected. These functions include: Advising the Minister on such matters affecting the interests of the consumers; Making representations to the Government or to any other person/organizations on any issues affecting the interests of consumers; Collecting, collating and disseminating information in respect of matters affecting the interests of consumers; Supporting or maintaining legal proceedings initiated by a consumer, where such support is deemed necessary; Conducting research and investigations into matters affecting consumers; Advising and assisting consumers on matters affecting their interests; Co-operating with any person, association or organization outside Fiji having similar functions and becoming a member of or affiliate to any international organization concerned with consumer matters; and Soliciting and accepting for the purposes of the Council any money, land, or other property from the Government, any local authority, public body, organization, or person by way of grant, subsidy, donation, gift, or otherwise.
The Consumer Council Act1976 was amended in 1992 by Decree No 23. The amendment deleted a few key functions of the Council to promulgate the "Trade Standards and Quality Control Decree 1991". Whether the amendment decree reduced the specifically listed functions to prevent the CCF from actually carrying out these functions is a matter of legal interpretation. As long as the amendment does not prohibit the carrying out of the three functions, the general power of the Council can be invoked to continue to carry out research, and/or examination or testing of goods and services, and receiving and acting on consumer complaints. The overriding function is to 'do all such acts and things that it may consider necessary or expedient to ensure that the interests of consumers of goods and services are promoted and protected' [s6 (1)]. The 1992 amendment to the Consumer Council Act seems to be redundant as consequential amendments were not made to the Act.
1. Campaigns, Information & Media Division
To empower consumers with knowledge and information to bring about reforms in policy and practice that adversely affect consumer interests.
2. Alternative Dispute Resolution & Consumer Advisory Division
To assist consumers in resolving complaints through alternative dispute resolution,advisory services and legal representation.
3. Research & Policy Analysis Division
To identify and undertake broad-based and complaints driven research on key consumer protection legislations that promote and protect consumer interests through necessary policy changes.
The Council is divided into three departments, each with its own distinguished function. These are:
CAMPAIGNS, INFORMATION & MEDIA – To empower consumers with knowledge and information to bring about reforms in policy and practice that adversely affect consumer interests.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION & CONSUMER ADVISORY – To assist consumers in resolving complaints through alternative dispute resolution, advisory services and legal representation.
RESEARCH & POLICY ANALYSIS – To identify and undertake broad-based and complaints driven research on key consumer protection legislations that promote and protect consumer interests through necessary policy changes.
Since its establishment following the introduction of the Consumer Council of Fiji Act 1976, the Council has now become a household brand name in Fiji, giving rays of hope to Fijian consumers whose rights have been violated in the marketplace. As per the Consumer Council of Fiji Act 1976, the Council has powers to do such acts and things it considers necessary or expedient to ensure that the interests of the consumers are promoted and protected. These include:
Chief Executive Officer
Manager Campaigns
Information and Media
Manager Alternative Dispute Resolution & Consumer Advisory
Manager Research and Policy Analyst, Research, Policy and Analysis Division
Manager Finance and Administration
Senior Research Officer
Research and Policy Analysis Division
Research and Debt Management Officer
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Consumer Advisory Division
Research Officer
Assistant Research Officer
Senior Media Officer
Campaigns, Information and Media Division
Campaigns & Media Officer
Media Officer
Consumer Officer
Assistant Consumer Officer
Receptionist, Clerical and Administrative Officer
Consumer Helpline Officer
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Consumer Advisory
Executive Officer
Complaint Management and Data Entry Officer
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Consumer Advisory & Administration
Asistant Administration Officer
Regional Coordinator Labasa
Regional Coordinator Lautoka
On 15 March, 1962, US President John F. Kennedy delivered a historic address to the US Congress in which he outlined his vision of consumer rights. This was the first time any politician had formerly set out such principles.
"Consumers by definition include us all, " Kennedy said in his Congressional statement. They are the largest economic group , affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group…whose views are often not heard"
Over time, the consumer movement has developed this vision into a set of eight basic consumer rights which now define and inspire much of the work CI and its members do:
The right to satisfaction of basic needs – To have access to basic, essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation.
The right to safety – To be protected against products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health or life.
The right to be informed – To be given the facts needed to make an informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labeling.
The right to choose – To be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.
The right to be heard – To have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.
The right to redress – To receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
The right to consumer education – To acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.
The right to a healthy environment -To live and work in an environment which is non-threatening to the well-being of present and future generations.
This set of eight consumer rights now guide the campaign and policy work of CI and consumer organizations in the world over.
Critical Awareness – the responsibility to be more alert and questioning about the price and quality of goods and services we use.
Action – the responsibility to assert ourselves and act to ensure that we get a fair deal. As long as we remain passive consumers we will be exploited.
Social concern – the responsibility to be aware of the impact of our consumption on other citizens, especially the disadvantaged or powerless groups whether in the local, national or international community.
Environmental Awareness – the responsibility to understand the environmental and other consequences of our consumption. We should recognize our individual and social responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect the earth for future generations.
Solidarity – the responsibility to organize together as consumers to develop the strength and influence to promote and protect our interest.
The Consumer Council of Fiji is pleased to present the Council's Strategic Plan 2012 to 2022. The Strategic Plan is an evolving document that is reviewed annually to take into account changing situations, government policies, and emerging issues affecting consumers. The plan is expected to play a positive role in achieving a marketplace where consumers are well informed, confident, and protected from unlawful, deceptive, misleading, or otherwise objectionable practices. It is critical that consumers understand their rights and responsibilities and have the skills and confidence necessary to ensure they receive the best quality services and value for money.
For more information
Have you completed your bachelor's degree recently?
Do you have exceptional communication, interpersonal and organizational skills?
If yes, we are the best organization for you to kickstart your career!!
Apply for the position of Project Assistant today!
The Project Assistant will be responsible for providing support and creating balance in the time and scope of executing Council's project activities in close collaboration with the Campaigns, Information and Media Division and under the direct supervision of the Manager responsible for the Division. This is a short-term contract and applications close 7th September 2022.
Send us your applications to the email: email@example.com
A well-functioning market economy needs educated consumers with the power to influence the market through their rational decisions when confronted with choice. Informed consumers are able to assert themselves in the marketplace, which in turn influences the behaviour of traders, pushing them to be voluntarily compliant with consumer legislation. Only through being informed can consumers gain the benefits of a well-functioning market economy. And in order to be informed, consumers must receive timely and accurate information. This information must be brought to consumers through as many mediums as possible to ensure maximum reach and effectiveness
Mobile units are cost effective means by which the Council can reach out to consumers who would otherwise not be able to access its services due to distance or transportation costs. The mobile units ensure that Council services are accessed directly thus increasing its reach and footprint. The Council also conducts market surveillance and trader visits in the respective areas where the information booths are set up.
Consumer education should begin in early childhood to cultivate positive consumer attitudes and help youths develop independent thinking. This is especially important because more and more traders are targeting youths in advertising campaigns. Furthermore, many emerging consumer issues, such as data safety online, impacts young consumers who spend large amounts of time on social media and the internet. Educating school students on their rights and emerging consumer issues is important to ensure that unscrupulous traders do not swindle them. To do this, the Council actively seeks opportunities to visit schools and educate students on their rights and responsibilities.
Products and services in the modern world are constantly evolving to take into account the ever-growing needs of consumers. Unfortunately, the speed of this innovation can have a negative impact on consumer rights. This is because many products and services are in the hands of consumers before their consumer impacts are fully known. This lack of information on consumer rights with regards to new products is a cause for concern, even for the most informed urban consumers. Rural consumers are susceptible to greater risks simply because they may not have access to the most up-to-date information on consumer trends. Therefore, the Consumer Council of Fiji focuses on reaching as many villages and communities as possible in both rural and maritime areas. Community visits allow accessibility of Council Services and information in the most remote communities and ensures that they are not disadvantaged by distance.
The Council conducts rigorous research on consumer policy issues to stay ahead of emerging trends in the marketplace. This research must then be communicated to stakeholders and consumers. Workshops give the Council an avenue to impart this information. Over the years Council has partnered with several organizations such as the Department of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Fiji National University, Catholic Women's League, the Fiji Disabled People's Association etc to conduct workshops on various consumer topics and issues. The topics covered in these workshops have moved from the role of the Consumer Council, consumer rights and responsibilities, towards emerging problems that consumers face in their day to day living.
Talkback shows have also proven to be effective for the Council's campaign on consumer rights, responsibilities and critical consumer issues. The Council has made arrangements with radio and television stations to ensure that it has got slots available to speak on topics which are in the interest of consumers. Talkback shows also all the Council to reach to hundreds and thousands of Fijians who can use this platform to directly communicate or raise any consumer related concerns.
Social media is continuously evolving and as such, the Council is evolving with it. Using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram, the Council has been able to reach consumers around the Country and overseas. This platform is used for disseminating consumer advisories and alerts. Since these platforms are interactive, it allows the Council to receive consumer complaints and provide timely responses to queries.
The Council also has an in-house production team which looks after audio/video production as well as basic graphics. The team also creates relevant content to be placed in various communications materials in English, Hindi and iTaukei in order to suit the language needs of consumers.
Contact the Council if you would like us to visit your community, village or school to create awareness, to set up a mobile unit or to conduct workshops. You may reach out to our Campaigns team at 9716263.
In a joint effort to empower and protect consumers, especially the disadvantaged and marginalised ones, the Consumer Council of Fiji, with the support of the European Union, launched the Community Consumer Advisory Group (CCAG) on the 25th of June 2014 in Suva.
The group, which has a voluntary membership representing rural, remote areas of the country, will act as the Council's eyes, ears and voice on the ground.
The Council has identified seven representatives from Savusavu, Taveuni, Nasinu, Lautoka, Rakiraki, Labasa and Levuka to be part of the CCAG.
If you would like to be a part of our tireless group of volunteers as the Council's eyes and ears within your community, you can express your interest to the email firstname.lastname@example.com
CCAG Representative - Lautoka
CCAG Representative - Nasinu
CCAG Representative - Rakiraki
CCAG Representative - Taveuni
CCAG Representative - Savusavu
CCAG Representative – Labasa
CCAG Representative - Levuka
Today's fast paced and diverse economic environment makes it imperative for consumers to be assertive in the market place in order to ensure that they get their money's worth. In instances consumers are not assertive, the unscrupulous players in market place may exploit this 'passive' nature of consumers in order to profiteer at their expense. Hence, the Consumer Council of Fiji habitually reminds consumers of their responsibility to take Action – the responsibility to assert ourselves as consumers and act to ensure that we get a fair deal. This is based on the premise that as long as we remain passive consumers, we will be exploited.
How can consumers exercise their responsibility of action?
Consumers can exercise their responsibility of Action by letting businesses know when they are dissatisfied with their products and services. This is done by lodging complaints either directly with the business or the Consumer Council of Fiji…read more
Apart from using the dedicated Mobile APP, Consumers can now raise complaints directly from this website by clicking on the Button given below.
9 Photos
The Consumer Council of Fiji is a full member of Consumers International (CI), the international federation of consumer organizations based in London. The Council has been a member of CI since 1989 and is the only consumer group in the South Pacific that is actively involved in CI's international activities on consumer rights and interests.
The Council is a member of COPOLCO – the Committee on Consumer Policy of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The Council's status as the statutory representative of consumers in Fiji has made it an important partner or stakeholder in various Fiji consultative and policy-making bodies. The Council is often consulted by policymakers and industry groups on matters affecting consumers in Fiji.
The Consumer Council of Fiji provides for a dynamic, progressive and career building work environment and has a track record of molding young minds through exposure to a vast array of industries, sectors, organizations and other stakeholders.
The Council, on a need basis, frequently allows for university students and new graduates to work as a volunteer or attaché. Interested individuals can submit an expression of interest to join any of the teams below:
Get exposure to writing press releases, liaising with media agencies, writing newspaper articles, conducting campaign work, community awareness sessions, workshops with business houses and project management.
Individuals with qualifications or progress towards qualifications in journalism, law, literature, language, public relations and other relevant fields are encouraged to apply.
Submit your interests to email@example.com
With the Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, individuals will gain experience handling consumer complaints, conducting investigations, market surveillance, facilitating mediation and consumer advisory.
Individuals with qualifications in law, economics, business administration and other relevant fields are encouraged to apply.
Get valuable experience handling service-related consumer complaints, conducting market surveillance, minor and major researches on consumer issues, policy submissions and project proposals.
Individuals with qualifications in law, economics, business administration, public health, environmental health and other relevant fields are encouraged to apply.
Get acquainted preparing financial statements, dealing with human resource matters and other administration duties.
May 10, 2018


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Can environmental regimes really be viewed as complex dynamic systems? Oran Young makes a nice effort in his latest book "Institutional Dynamics – Emergent Patterns in International Environmental Governance" (MIT Press, 2010). While the study of environmental and resource regimes certainly has a strong track record in political science and international relations, Young makes a novel and detailed analysis of what he calls "emergent patterns" – patterns of institutional change that arise over time from the dynamics of complex systems (pp. 8). Young observes, and unpacks five patterns:
Progressive development: this patterns starts with a framework convention followed shortly by one or more substantive protocols that are amended and extended to accommodate new information. Example: stratospheric ozone, and the Montreal Protocol.
Punctuated equilibrium: this pattern occur in cases where regimes encounter periodic stresses which trigger episodes of regime building and change. Example: The Antarctic Treaty System.
Arrested development: here, regimes get off to a promising start but then run into barriers or obstacles that block further development. Example: climate change and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Diversion: this pattern includes regimes that are created for one purpose, but later are redirected in a manner that runs counter to the original purpose. Example: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
Collapse: this pattern includes cases where regimes have been in operation for some time, but then encounters external or internal stresses and transforms into a "dead letter". Example: North Pacific Sealing Convention.
Young recently published an article [PDF] for Global Environmental Change on this topic. You can also listen to an interview with him here.


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Once during your turn, when you play Milotic from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon, you may remove all damage counters from all of your Pokémon and your opponent's Pokémon (excluding Pokémon-ex).
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Apply now if:
– you are finding new ways of simultaneously improving incomes and strengthening livelihoods; tackling poverty and marginalisation; and managing and conserving natural resources and ecosystems; and – you are developing a new concept that brings together people and organizations from different backgrounds to work in partnership, and partners are pooling their commitment and human, financial, and natural resources; and
– your project or enterprise is in the early stages of development and keen to increase its impacts; and
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Detailed eligibility criteria are available at www.seedinit.org. Before submitting your application, you will be asked to complete an eligibility checklist.
Winners of the 2009 SEED Awards for entrepreneurship in sustainable development receive a tailored package of support services, worth up to $40,000, to help their venture to become established and to increase their impact. This includes access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, meeting new partners and building networks, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance.
The deadline for applications is 16 March 2009. Application forms can be filled in online or downloaded from the SEED Initiative website at www.seedinit.org.
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How many times have you heard this?
It is not the answer that is important but how you got there.
Over the past week I have been in quite a few classes working with students on their mathematical thinking. Specifically, 'Number Talks' and how they mentally process numbers and the different ways to do it.
What an experience it has been. The whole idea is to let the students do the talking and learn from the ideas of each other. I have found this incredibly difficult. How many times have you had to stop yourself from interrupting or interjecting during a classroom discussion? I know that this is something that I have had to work so that students can learn from their own thinking and the thinking of others.
There has been a huge amount of learning at our school this week! The learning has not been done all by the students but the process we as a staff are moving through to examine and discover student thinking. After each classroom session there has been just as much professional dialogue going on as there was dialogue with the students around the Number Talk. Ideas of where to go next, insight on where certain students are in their learning and discussion on how to extend the mathematical thinking of these students.
This approach to teaching and talking about math in the classroom is relatively new to me. After working with just a few groups of students I can really see how this can benefit each and everyone of the students at our school. I am hoping that others feel the same way and continue with these talks with their students a few times a week and we can deepen the students mathematical thinking.
That is the best part.


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CAIRO – Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi called Saturday for a referendum in two weeks on a contentious draft constitution, setting a date for another milestone in the country's transition to democracy. Widespread disputes over the charter and Morsi's recent seizure of near absolute power have marred the process and thrown the country into turmoil.
As has been the case in nearly two years since Hosni Mubarak was ousted, what should have been a cause for national celebration turned into dueling protest between opponents and supporters of how the transition has been managed-- largely divided along Islamist and secular lines.
More than 100,000 Morsi supporters organized by the Muslim Brotherhood and ultraconservative Salafi groups took to the streets of Cairo and other cities a day after a massive opposition demonstration against his recent decrees giving him immunity from judicial oversight and the charter that was rushed through an assembly packed with allies.
The presidency has been locked in a tug of war with the powerful judiciary and secular and Christian activists since Morsi granted himself far-reaching powers on Nov. 22 in a bid to pre-empt an expected decision by the Supreme Constitutional Court on Sunday to dissolve the constitutional panel, as it had done the Islamist-led parliament earlier this year.
Morsi also decreed that courts cannot dissolve the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament, known as the Shura Council -- another decision slated to be before the Constitution Court on Sunday. In protest, most of the nation's judges have gone on strike.
It was not clear if Egypt's highest court would go ahead with Sunday's session. Any move to do so would be a direct challenge to Morsi and could further undermine the charter's legitimacy. Judges also have threatened to boycott observing the referendum, and the secular opposition promised a civil disobedience campaign.
"After receiving this draft constitution, and out of keenness to build the nation's institutions without delay or stalling, I will issue today the call for a public referendum on this draft charter on Saturday, Dec. 15," Morsi said. "I pray to God and hope that it will be a new day of democracy in Egypt."
The dispute has thrown Egypt into a fresh round of turmoil after months of protests, rising crime and economic woes. It also has mobilized an increasingly cohesive opposition leadership of prominent liberal and secular politicians -- a contrast to the leaderless youth uprising last year that toppled Mubarak.
Late Saturday, a few thousand pro-Morsi supporters gathered outside the building of the Supreme Constitutional Court and set up tents, heightening the tension.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland lamented the lack of consensus in Egypt's constitution-writing process.
But other U.S. officials said there were internal debates over whether to criticize the draft constitution for limiting freedom of expression, failing to grant freedom of worship, criminalizing blasphemy and eroding women's rights guarantees.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations.
Acknowledging the disagreements, Morsi said he didn't want to delay the transition and said the draft constitution is another brick in Egypt's democratic experience. He also called for a national dialogue in his nationally televised address to the constitutional assembly.
The Muslim Brotherhood, from which Morsi hails, alleges the courts are dominated by Mubarak-era judges trying to stall progress.
"I tell my opponents before my supporters, help me to carry out this responsibility you bestowed upon me in managing the country's affairs," Morsi said, urging protesters to take their opposition to the ballot box. "With us all we build the nation."
As he announced the date, his supporters holding their rally near Cairo University danced and chanted in celebration. "The people support the president's decision!" they chanted.
Ashraf Metawli, a 32-year-old government employee from the Nile Delta province of el-Menoufia who was brought by bus to Cairo for the rally, said the majority of Egyptians are Muslims and its constitution should be an Islamist one.
"This is our belief. We picked the president for Islamic law, and our choice was democratic," he said. "What Morsi is doing is to get rid of all that is corrupt."
Across the Nile River, a few thousand of Morsi's opponents rallying in Cairo's Tahrir Square raised their shoes to show contempt for the plan.
The opposition held massive rallies last week, and several hundred are holding a sit-in in Tahrir, the epicenter of the uprising that forced Mubarak to step down last year. They have said they would only participate in a national dialogue if Morsi rescinds his decrees, which they said gave him near-dictatorial powers.
Prominent democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate who is a member of the opposition coalition leadership, said on his Twitter account that Morsi put to a referendum a constitution that "undermines basic freedoms and violates universal rights. The struggle continues."
Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, in backing Morsi, have depicted the opposition as an elitist group that has not been able to muster success in the previous elections, including an earlier referendum during the military rule, and parliamentary elections that brought the Islamists to power.
Mohammed el-Beltagy, a senior Brotherhood member and a member of the constituent assembly, told the Brotherhood-affiliated TV station Misr 25, said the opposition was a media phenomenon.
"We either go to the ballot boxes and let the people be the arbiter, or we can believe that the elite are a substitute for the people."
Islamists, including the Brotherhood and the more radical Salafi groups, garnered nearly 75 percent of the seats in last winter's parliament election. But the Supreme Constitutional Court dissolved the parliament in June, setting the stage for the current standoff.
In his speech, Morsi appealed to the judges to carry out their duties, praising their national roles and adding that the state will not challenge their decisions or powers.
"I am sure that the judges of Egypt will be of help to their nation and people. No one can act outside legal legitimacy," he said in the official ceremony held for the delivery of the draft constitution attended by panel members, as well as the defense minister, signaling military support.
Nasser Amin, the head of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, said Morsi was sending a subtle hint that he didn't expect the judges to challenge his decrees.
He added that Morsi's decision to call for a referendum despite a legal challenge hanging over the body that drafted it undermines the referendum's legitimacy.
"It will be a stillborn constitution," he said.
Threatening to prolong the standoff, various groups, including religious clerics and university professors, have offered to observe the referendum in case the judges follow through with their threats to boycott it.
Despite wide opposition to the constitution and walkouts by secular and Christian representatives from the panel drafting the constitution, Morsi said the constitution establishes a real democratic system and "is going in the right direction."
Opponents say the draft charter has a distinct Islamist bent and rights groups have raised concerns about articles that undermine personal and women rights as well as freedoms of expression.
"We want to overcome disagreements and bickering to move toward serious and productive work. There are massive challenges ahead in the future internally and externally," Morsi said, referring to those who walked out of the panel or are criticizing the draft.
The opposition announced plans for an intensified street campaign of protests and civil disobedience and even a possible march on Morsi's presidential palace to prevent him from holding a nationwide referendum on the draft. It is not clear whether the opposition can rally enough voters to shoot down the constitution in a referendum or organize a boycott campaign.


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EXCLUSIVE: Noble moves from Fortissimo to Goldcrest as head of acquisitions and development.
Courtney Noble, former vice president of acquisitions at Fortissimo Films, has joined Goldcrest Films International as head of acquisitions and development.
In her new role, Noble will oversee production and development for all projects at GFI.
At Fortissimo, Noble most recently acquired Terence Davies' upcoming epic Sunset Song, starring Agyness Deyn. She oversaw international and world premieres for titles including Winter's Bone and Martin Scorsese's Shine A Light.
Pascal Degove, managing director of Goldcrest Films International, said: "It's very exciting to have Courtney join us at Goldcrest Films International, her strong relationships and proven taste are the perfect complement to our production, finance and post-production offerings."
Goldcrest's EFM sales slate includes Sundance Special Jury Prize (World Cinema Documentary) winner Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer, Sebastian Junger's HBO doc Which Way is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington, Sundance Audience Award (World Cinema Documentary) winner The Square, and Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers.


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Welivetogether - Feel Her Up
Dang rain! It spoiled the evening plans. Now those two beautiful girls would be stuck at home. And they already made themselves all pretty to go out. If only they could come up with an idea what else to do.
Blaire Ivory was thinking hard. Mickey Tyler was thinking harder. What would happen if Blaire would kiss Mickey and maybe also caress her breast? Would they forget their silly plans? Would they rather visually please us? Hooray! That's exactly what happened.
Blaire pulled down Mickey's panties and started to lick her precious pussy. She licked and she sucked. After a while she sat on Mickey's face and it was her turn to receive some pleasure.
Until she bent over into a nice 69 and both girls could feel the licking pleasure at the same time. Mickey leaned over so Blaire could lick her from the back. Of course Blaire licked intensively.
Then Blaire turned over on her back and Mickey licked her pussy until Blaire reached a wonderful orgasm. The girls energy cleared the skies and they could go out after all.


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LONDON (AP) — The price of bitcoin fell below $20,000 on Saturday for the first time since late 2020, in a fresh sign that the selloff in cryptocurrencies is deepening.
Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, fell below the psychologically important threshold, dropping by as much as 9% to less than $19,000 and hovering around that mark, according to the cryptocurrency news site CoinDesk.
The last time bitcoin was at that level was in November 2020, when it was on its way up to its all-time high of nearly $69,000, according to CoinDesk. Many in the industry had believed it would not fall under $20,000.
Bitcoin has now lost more than 70% of its value since reaching that peak.
Ethereum, another widely followed cryptocurrency that's been sliding in recent weeks, took a similar tumble on Saturday.
It's the latest sign of turmoil in the cryptocurrency industry amid wider turbulence in financial markets. Investors are selling off riskier assets because central banks are raising interest rates to combat quickening inflation.
The overall market value of cryptocurrency assets has fallen from $3 trillion to below $1 trillion, according to coinmarketcap.com, a company that tracks crypto prices.
A spate of crypto meltdowns has erased tens of billions of dollars of value from the currencies and sparked urgent calls to regulate the freewheeling industry. Last week, bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate to regulate the digital assets. The crypto industry has also upped its lobbying efforts — flooding $20 million into congressional races this year for the first time, according to records and interviews.
Cesare Fracassi, a finance professor at the University of Texas at Austin who leads the school's Blockchain Initiative, believes Bitcoin's fall under the psychological threshold isn't a big deal. Instead, he said the focus should be on recent news from lending platforms.
Cryptocurrency lending platform Celsius Network said this month that it was pausing all withdrawals and transfers, with no sign of when it would give its 1.7 million customers access to their funds.
"There is a lot of turbulence in the market," Fracassi said. "And the reason why prices are going down is because there is a lot of concern the sector is overleveraged."
The cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase announced Tuesday that it laid off about 18% of its workforce, with the company's CEO and cofounder Brian Armstrong placing some of the blame on a coming "crypto winter."
Stablecoin Terra imploded last month, losing tens of billions of dollars in value in a matter of hours.
Crypto had permeated much of popular culture before its recent tumble, with many Super Bowl ads touting the digital assets and celebrities and YouTube personalities routinely promoting it on social media.


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Jon Krop
This is not just a pop song lyric; it's also excellent mindfulness advice. ("Put your pinky rings up to the moon"? Less so.)
As I've said before, when we feel anxiety or some other unpleasant emotion, we tend to flinch away and resist. Unfortunately, this only makes things worse. The trick is to drop your resistance and let yourself feel whatever you're feeling. Turn toward your present-moment experience, even when it's a little uncomfortable. This may be counterintuitive, but it can really take the sting out of anxiety and other difficult emotions.
The easiest way to do this is to tune into what you're feeling in your body. To help, here's a short body scan meditation. Enjoy!


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If you're like me, you often ask yourself how you can get more work done in a day. How can you best boost your productivity? I always assumed that if I could just reduce any stress I was facing, my productivity would rise. But my intuition was, in fact, wrong. It's true that stress can be a health risk, and that we're often encouraged to avoid it if we want to live happy, productive, and long lives. But research suggests that some stress can actually be beneficial to performance.
Take a look at the picture below. According to what is known as "The Yerkes-Dodson law," performance increases with physiological or mental arousal (stress) but only up to a point. When the level of stress becomes too high, performance decreases.
There's more: The shape of the curve varies based on the complexity and familiarity of the task. Different tasks require different levels of arousal for optimal performance, research has found. For example, difficult or unfamiliar tasks require lower levels of arousal to facilitate concentration; by contrast, you may better perform tasks demanding stamina or persistence with higher levels of arousal to induce and increase motivation.
Given this relationship between stress and performance, it's probably beneficial to understand how much stress you are currently experiencing at work. If you are curious, take the following test (which is adapted from the commonly used Perceived Stress Scale, created by Sheldon Cohen, Tom Kamarck, and Robin Mermelstein).
Higher scores, as you might guess, correspond to higher levels of stress. Based on my use of this test in executive education classrooms and in research conducted with other groups, scores around 13 are considered average. Usually, scores in this range indicate that your attention and interest are at the proper level, allowing you to be productive at work. Referring to the Yerkes-Dodson law, such scores generally correspond to an optimal level of arousal and thus performance.
But if your score is much higher or much lower, you're likely experiencing stress in a way that is detrimental to productivity. In particular, scores of 20 or more are generally considered to indicate an unproductive level of stress. But even scores that indicate low levels of stress—commonly, scores of 4 or lower–could be problematic since they signal an insufficient level of arousal to keep you engaged in your work. If this is the case, try to find healthy ways of raising your stress by taking on more challenging tasks or responsibilities. Increasing stress may feel counterintuitive, but remember that, according to the research, increasing arousal also corresponds to increasing attention and interest (up to a point).
For comparison, here are some average scores from research conducted using this scale:
If your score approaches or exceeds 20, here are some strategies that may help you reduce stress to a more productive level:
Increase your control. One simple solution to lowering stress is to find more ways to increase your control over the work you do. People tend to believe that high-level positions bring a lot of stress, but research suggests just the opposite: Leaders with higher levels of responsibility experience lower stress levels than those with less on their shoulders. This is because leaders have more control over their activities. Independent of where you sit in the organizational hierarchy, you may have ways to increase your sense of control—namely, by focusing on aspects of your work where you can make choices (for example, choosing one project over another or simply choosing the order in which you answer e-mails).
Find more opportunities to be authentic. Evidence suggests that people often experience feelings of inauthenticity at work. That is, they conform to the opinions of colleagues rather than voicing their own, and they go with others' flow rather than setting their own agenda. This, my research suggests, has important implications for your stress level and performance. When people behave in inauthentic ways, they experience higher levels of anxiety than when they are simply themselves. So, try to find ways to express who you are at work, such as offering to share your unique talents or decorating your office to reflect who you are.
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Use rituals. Basketball superstar Michael Jordan wore his North Carolina shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls shorts at every game; Curtis Martin of the New York Jets reads Psalm 91 before every game; and Wade Boggs, as third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, ate chicken before each game and took batting practice at exactly 5:17 p.m., fielded exactly 117 ground balls, and ran sprints at precisely 7:17 p.m. These rituals may sound strange, but they can actually improve performance.
In one recent experiment, people asked to hit a golf ball into a hole received either a so-called "lucky" golf ball or an ordinary golf ball. In another experiment, participants performing a motor dexterity task (placing 36 small balls in 36 holes by tilting the plastic cube containing them) were either asked to simply start the game or heard the researcher say they would cross their fingers for them. The superstitious rituals enhanced people's confidence in their abilities, motivated greater effort — and improved subsequent performance.
Similarly, research in sports psychology demonstrates the performance benefits of pre-performance routines, from improving attention and execution to increasing emotional stability and confidence. And recently, my colleagues and I have found that when people engage in rituals before undertaking high-stakes tasks, they feel less anxious and stressed about the task and end up performing better as a result.
A moderate amount of stress may put you in the right mindset to tackle your work. But if you are feeling overwhelmed, I hope you'll try out some of these strategies to not only improve your productivity but also to increase your happiness.