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Sindhu Immigration Services is a newly established immigration firm based in the heart of Ilford. It is a rapidly growing organisation and we are seeking a junior caseworker to join our team (subject to a probabtion period of THREE months). We are looking for a desirable candidate who holds a previous experience of minimum 1 year within the immigration legal sector and is OISC Level 2/IAAS accredited.
Overall purpose of the job
• Undertake casework and manage a caseload up to level of competence/accreditation.
• Preparation and management of applications to Home Office.
• To advise clients regarding procedure and practice.
• Attend Asylum and Screening Interviews with client at Home Office upon request.
Main Tasks
1. Represent clients before Home Office in writing including preparation of cases.
2. Draft witness statements, representations and other complex documents and letters using word-processor.
3. Preparation and management of applications to the Home Office.
4. Ensure all contact with the client and any other action taken in respect of cases is recorded on attendance notes and regularly updated on the database.
5. Liaise with Immigration Authorities, other agencies, and groups as required.
6. Interview and advise clients regarding Immigration/Asylum law, procedure, and practice. Provide guidance to clients on completion of documents.
7. Attend clients in detention centres and surgeries on occasions where appropriate.
8. Meet specified casework and other targets as set by Supervisor.
9. Support staff where direct administrative and secretarial support is needed.
11. Keep up-to-date at all times with changes in Immigration/Asylum law by reading, attending training events and using computer for reference purposes.
• Fully Accredited to Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme Level 1 or registered at OISC level 2.
• Minimum of one year's full-time experience in Immigration and Asylum legal advice and representation, covering all heads of policy under the immigration rules.
• Minimum of 1 year's experience of working to Quality Assurance Standards (Specialist Quality Mark)
• Experience of using computer software such as MS word, spread-sheets, databases and the ability to type and prepare own documents.
- Job types:
- Immigration Law Practice/Advice


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Kitchens Design & Cabinets – Kitchen Showroom Malvern
When it comes to your home, problems are inevitable. From simple problems like leaky pipes, to more serious issues, a service guarantee will insure any problems you experience with your recently completed renovation project are taken care of swiftly and professionally. Even if you were never planning a big kitchen renovation project, something small can turn into something big very fast because of something unexpected.
There are many houses and kitchens in the Malvern area that need a little help. Sometimes what may seem like a small repair job could have you wanting to renovate your entire kitchen. Or maybe you just had your entire kitchen renovated or partially renovated but for one reason or another, something is either broken or unfinished. There are so many unthinkable factors when it comes to what can cause problems in your home that something important failing in your home can become a constant source of worry.
The bottom line is, unplanned accidents happen. Especially when you have a family with young children and pets causing havoc throughout your home on a daily basis. Nature takes its toll as well. The seasonal weather patterns and temperature changes cause your home, everything in it, and everything it's built from, to expand and contract again and again. This process can cause things in your home to start weakening and eventually fail all together. Failed water lines can cause considerable damage before you even discover there is a problem, that being a more obvious example.
Kitchen designers in Malvern familiar with the effects of nature on building materials will be able to plan for some of these unforeseeable events by using the right materials, installed the right way, and having a guarantee along with a service plan that comes standard with their work. If something breaks, they come fix it. And because you chose kitchen builders local to Malvern, they are only a phone call away.
Long term satisfaction with the end result is a top priority for any designer. In order to ensure this, a builder has to be willing to not only guarantee the work, but to also service any problems that may arise promptly and to your satisfaction as the homeowner. Without this guarantee, the reputation of the builder is dubious at best. After all, a kitchen should be designed and built to last and if that is the case, the builder should have no problem with something as trivial as a guarantee.
Many common renovation problems can be avoided with proper planning and effective design. Offering a guarantee to a homeowner only serves as an assurance that the designers and builders actually know what they are doing. That they have the experience to ensure your dream kitchen is built to last.
Call today to book your appointment with our expert designers: 03 9882 4103

subset: commoncrawl


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Course Dates
ADRIA's specialized training can be used for professional development to enhance your ADR skill set, or to complete a Program Certificate in Conflict Leadership.
If you do not see the course that interests you scheduled, please see the Expression of Interest Form for that course:
Conflict Coaching - Conflict Management Strategies & Skills for the Individual
This four day course will introduce students to a unique coaching model that marries the field of coaching with the field of ADR. You will learn how a coach provides individuals with the opportunity to develop insight into their own dispute resolution style and possible contribution to unproductive interactions.
Mediation Case Development
This two-day course is a must for those who wish to mediate in their workplace, or in private practice. Participants learn what types of disputes are suitable for mediation, gain an understanding of how to educate the disputants on the process procedural set-up, commitment, expectations, and understand the stumbling blocks that can come up during mediation. Mediation training is a prerequisite.
Multi-Party Mediation
This three-day course is designed to help people who are interested in using their skills to bring individuals, industry, governments, and other agencies together to develop unique, collaborative solutions to complex problems. Mediation training is a prerequisite.
Oil & Gas Fundamentals for Conflict Management Practitioners
This two-day course is for those who work with oil and gas related negotiations and conflicts and who would like to have a better understanding of the industry technical jargon and how things work in the oil and gas industry both corporately and in the field. Mediation training is a prerequisite.
Restorative Practices
This three-day course provides training in restorative justice practices, including circles, and will describe the various ways in which restorative practices can bring people together to connect and, in a deeply meaningful way, solve problems and address harm that arises from conflict. No prerequisite training is required.
Separation and Divorce Mediation: Foundations, Parenting Plans, and Child Support
This five-day course prepares mediators to manage a separation or divorce mediation from the time of initial contact, to creation of a mediated agreement, including parenting plans and child support.
Separation & Divorce Mediation: Spousal Support and Division of Property
Determining future financial support and separating property can be challenging for parties, and wrought with uncertainty and high emotion. This course provides an overview of the federal and provincial legislation that governs the calculation of spousal support and the division of property when couples separate.
High Conflict Mediation
Mediators working in Separation and Divorce and other High Conflict mediations need to understand and manage emotional intensity and challenges specific to this area of practice. This course prepares mediators to manage aspects of high conflict mediations, including safety screening, dealing with parties experiencing poor mental health, addictions issues, and/or domestic violence. Mediators will be equipped with the tools to determine whether to proceed, and to mediate what can be high conflict discussions.
Alberta's association of mediators and arbitrators.
Our main office is located in Edmonton:
Contact Us:
Toll Free: 1-800-232-7214


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The ham bands have been busy for a few days now. Makes it good for low power work. Using PSK31 mode of transmission - a keyboard to keyboard mode and I'm using low power and marginal antennas. I was using the Buddipole antenna for a few weeks on my enclosed back porch but a few days ago I installed a 20 meter Hamstick attached to a metal swing in the back yard. If you look hard at the picture at the left you can see the Hamstick attached to the top of the swing - it works extremely well on PSK DX on the 20 meter band.
The log shows stations from South Africa, Spain, Cayman Islands, the Azores and the Canary Islands. Seems like the bands are wide open, not at all like being in the bottom of a solar cycle. Conditions will be improving now as we're right at the bottom of Cycle 23 and scientists predict a really hot Cycle 24. Most of the qso's used less than 20 watts of transmitted RF power.
The software, Ham Radio Deluxe completely integrates with amateur radio transceivers. Most of the popular manufacturers are supported. At VE3MPG, Ham Radio Deluxe supports my Yaesu FT-100 and the FT-817. Complete control of the radios can be exercised from your computer screen, such as digital frequency read out, CW, SSB filters, transmission modes and much more. A program called PSK31 Deluxe can be started from the main interface. New multi-mode software called Digital Master 780, now in beta will replace PSK31 Deluxe in the next few weeks after beta testing is complete. 70 hams across the world are vigorously putting the betas through the wringer for possible bugs and interface tweaks. Ham Radio Deluxe integrates with Google Earth so you can visually see where your log contacts are on the globe
Here are a few screenshots of HRD and DM780 running on Windows2000:
Picture 1 shows the main Ham Radio Deluxe screen.
Picture 2 shows the main Digital Master 780 screen where all the input and output comms take place. Notice the blue waterfall area at the bottom of the screen - this is where the signals are displayed and clicking on a signal in this area tunes the transceiver and begins to decode the PSK31 signals. Signals appear as streaks in the waterfall display. Many signals can fit into the 3000Hz wide bandwidth provided by the software.The main Digital Master Superbrowser screen - one qso is being displayed in browser window - Digital Master can display 60 or more channels or ham qso's in progress - call signs are automatically displayed in the window. Click on an active qso and it takes you back to the previous qso screen where log book integration is available and the callsign is immediately looked up on QRZ.com to give you all the information about the station you are about to work.


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Buddy, can you spare a dime?
29 April 2014
Do you have any unwanted old or foreign coins lurking in a drawer? If you do then the charity Tools For Self Reliance Cymru would love you to bring them to their stall at this year's Spring Festival! Everything from half-pences, Francs or even the odd Euro would be gratefully received. Why? Because TFSR Cymru have been asked by the Hakizetu Women's Organisation in Tanzania to support them in their work of helping dispossesed young women to start new lives.
TFSR Cymru have already provided the Hakizetu refuge with some sewing machines and other equipment and now hope to provide some more. They will enable the young women there to further support themselves through craft and trade. To help with the equipment and shipping costs, TFSR Cymru are hoping to raise £500 through donations of foreign and out-of-circulation coins and notes, which can be sold on to coin dealers.
You can find TFSR Cymru and their big collecting pot on their stand in the Green Horizons marquee (look for all the garden tools!). More can be found out about both them and the Hakizetu refuge at: www.tfsrcymru.org.uk


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The Master of Arts program in art history is designed to provide the student with a broad knowledge of the major art historical periods, the scholarly and bibliographical resources, and the methodologies of art history. It also offers an opportunity to investigate art historical problems in some depth. In addition to the regular graduate school application form, applicants to the graduate program in art history are required to submit GRE scores and copies of two research papers that they consider to represent their best work. Applicants for the MA should have a BA major or minor concentration in art history or a related humanities field and a minimum GPA of 3.5. All applicants whose native language is not English, or who have not received a degree from an English-speaking university, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the required minimum score is 100 if Internet-based.
The master's degree in art history is conducted exclusively under Plan B as described under the School of Graduate Studies in the university bulletin. All other requirements of the MA program must be fulfilled:
|Methodologies of Art History
|Eight graduate courses at the 400 level or above, three of which must be seminars on the 500 level. These eight courses must include one course from four of the following five areas: world art, ancient, medieval, Renaissance/Baroque and modern/ American.
|M.A. Qualifying Paper
|A reading knowledge of one foreign language (normally French, German, or Italian)
|Successful performance on the MA comprehensive examination
|Total Units
Prior to graduation all candidates for the MA in Art History are required to submit a qualifying paper; it may be a seminar or course paper reworked as necessary, or an independent project. The MA qualifying paper, based on individual research, should be the length of a publishable article and conform with the text and footnote format used in the Art Bulletin. The paper is written under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and is read and approved by a second member of the art history faculty. Further information regarding the Qualifying Paper is available online. Three credits registered as ARTH 489 is required.
All students are required to maintain good standing in the School of Graduate Studies, i.e. a minimum quality point average of 2.5 at the completion of twelve semester hours or two semesters of graduate study, and a minimum quality point average of 2.75 at the completion of twenty-one semester hours or four semesters of graduate study (For details, see the CWRU General Bulletin). If a student receives two grades of C, he or she will be placed on probation. An additional C will require withdrawal from the program.
All requirements for the MA degree must be completed within five years of matriculation, including leaves of absence, excepting leaves for military service or maternity/paternity leave. Formal application for graduation must be filed at the Office of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies not less than two months before the date of the convocation at which the candidate expects to receive the master's degree. In exceptional circumstances, some requirements may be waived with the permission of the department and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies . All requests for waiver of a requirement must be made formally, in writing, no later than the semester preceding the one in which the waiver is to be applied. Students will be notified in writing by the department chair whether or not the waiver has been granted.
Language Requirements
Candidates for the MA in art history must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of one approved modern language other than English, normally French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, or Japanese. The language requirement must be satisfied before the student applies to take the Master's Comprehensive Examination. It may be satisfied in one of three ways:
a. The student may submit evidence of having completed a minimum of six credit hours (two semesters) of college-level language study and achieve a grade of B or higher no later than two years before entering the MA program.
b. The student may complete a minimum of six credit hours (two semesters) of college level language study, achieving a grade of B or better. The language study must be completed by the end of the third semester in the MA program. Credit hours earned for language study may not be counted as part of the thirty hours required for the MA degree in art history. These hours may be taken at CWRU or elsewhere and official transcripts must be provided. Online courses can be used to satisfy this requirement, but the syllabus and final examination must be submitted to the department for approval.
c. The student may take a language examination (offered by the department every November and April. This one-hour examination requires translating a section of an art-historical writing in a foreign language into English; use of a dictionary is allowed. The examination is graded on a pass/fail basis, and grading is based on both the accuracy and length of the translation written by the student. In the event of an unsatisfactory performance, the exam may be taken again or the student may enroll in courses of formal language study as in option b.
Comprehensive Exam
After completing thirty hours of course work, students are required to take a MA Comprehensive Examination.This is a two- part examination, given over two days. The first day consists of a slide examination requiring the identification and brief discussion of thirty works of art chosen from all fields of art history. The images for part one will either be those found in the standard art history introductory textbook for the department (Stokstad) or works in the CMA permanent collection. The CMA works need to have been on view this academic year. They will not be objects that were in a temporary exhibition which was related to a course given in the department.
The second day consists of three essay questions chosen from the range of fields offered at CWRU. Exam questions will not be directly related to specific courses offered in the last two years.
Upon completion of the foreign language requirement, the MA Comprehensive Examination, and the MA qualifying paper, students will be provided in each case with an overall grade evaluating their performance, with four possible results: a) High Pass, b) Pass, c) Low Pass and d) Fail. A grade of Low Pass (or higher) on both the comprehensive examination and qualifying paper or final internship project is required for the MA degree.
Any Second-year MA student at CWRU who wishes to continue on in our doctoral program should submit a regular application including three letters of application but not the transcript, which the department will provide. The normal application fee will be paid by the department instead of the student. Their statement should explain which field they would like to study and why, and make clear they have discussed this plan with their potential departmental advisor. One letter of recommendation should come from their potential advisor. If accepted, the applicant may defer starting the doctoral program for one academic year if so desired, but the financial aid offer cannot be guaranteed for the next year.


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New bioprocessing applications enable manufacturing facilities built on the principle of flexibility, and focused on process and cost economics.
Think continuous, think small.
Continuous bioprocessing allows the constant and uninterrupted processing of materials in parallel production lines.
Bioprocess intensification involves minimizing, concentrating, and simplifying methods and equipment to enable smaller, more efficient and higher quality bioprocessing.
Perfusion, or upstream continuous processing, has been used since the 1980s. High cell density perfusion, or ATF perfusion, delivers higher cell concentration and cell viability.
N-1 perfusion refers to the use of an ATF device to achieve high cell density in the seed train step before the production bioreactor (N), achieving a more rapid and robust process while maintaining an existing Fed-batch based production scheme.
High density (HD) cell banking is seed train optimization involving larger volume frozen seed banks, eliminating seed steps from vial and enabling banking of larger volumes up to 1 liter.
Cell culture growth factors play a critical role in media optimization, contributing to long-term growth and rapid proliferation of cell lines in serum-free media formulations.
Use of pre-packed columns in downstream chromatography has increased in response to the needs of multi-product facilities and initiatives focused on reducing change-over time.
A continuous capture process is the next big challenge for modern bioproduction. Multi-column chromatography operates in continuous mode, balancing downstream productivity with upstream titers.
Tangential flow filtration (TFF) is commonly used for concentration and diafiltration operations in a purification process. Concentration is the unit operation where the feed volume is reduced and the species retained by the membrane increases in relative concentration. Diafiltration is the convective elimination of permeable solutes passing to the permeate and the addition of fresh solvent to the retentate.


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What does O&OEG stand for?
O&OEG stands for Oil and Oil Equivalent of Gas
This definition appears rarely and is found in the following Acronym Finder categories:
- Science, medicine, engineering, etc.
- Business, finance, etc.
- Abbreviation Database Surfer
- « Previous
- Next »
- Organizational and Management Planning (US OSD organizational charter development authority)
- Operations and Network Management working group
- One and Only (various companies)
- Operational & Organizational
- Organization and Operation
- Over & Out
- Overload & Overheat
- Oversized and Outsized (aircrafts)
- Owned and Operated
- Operational and Organizational (Plan)


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Gender: Feminine
Origin: French
Meaning: "hood; cape" or "nasturtium."
The name is derived from the Italian cappucio which was a translation of the old French word, chaperon, meaning "hood" or "cape."
The chaperon was a type of hood that could be worn in various different styles, by both men and women, that was popular throughout Western Europe during the Middle Ages.
The name was given to the Capuchin Friars, an off shoot of the Franciscan order, to denote the long woolen brown hooded robes that they were especially known for.
Though of the same etymology as the above two words, in modern French, capucine is the word for the nasturtium plant.
The name first took off after the 1960s, due to famed actress, Capucine, star of the Pink Panther (1933-1990).
Currently, the name is very fashionable in France.
In 2006 it came in at # 96 in the Top Female name of France.
The designated name-day in France is October 5.
The nasturtium is able to survive in the fall months.


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I was talking to my husband (who I met online 12 years ago!) about my job hunt over dinner. He said out loud what I had been thinking in my head: "It's like dating." It really is!
You create a profile to "sell" yourself. Then you have to hope people like the look of your profile enough to connect with you. You continuously tweak your profile in hopes it will better sell yourself to the prospects out there.
You have to network. Your friends, family and former coworkers can be of help when finding a match, so you have to spread the word that you're looking.
You see a listing you like. You send a poke or a like or a wink (or resume). Out of, say, 40 pokes, you might get 8 responses. The rest of the time? Crickets. It's pretty deflating.
Out of those 8 responses you get, many times there's an initial phone call. This could go either way. You could feel great about it, but the other person feels differently. Or you could both get along and it could lead to a face-to-face meeting.
Out of those few initial phone calls, maybe you get a first meeting. You dress your best, your hair is just right. You practice sounding intelligent, witty and not-nervous in the mirror before you go. You sweat through your shirt, but at least you're on your way!
There can be bad first dates. Those meetings that just don't go well for either side and you walk away mutually OK with not seeing each other again.
Or there can be GREAT first dates. You talked a ton! You laughed! You're so sure there will be a second meeting. So…
After waiting an appropriate amount of time, you send a follow up message. "It was great to meet you last week! Let me know when we can chat again."
You wait some more. You question yourself. You self-esteem tanks. You realize you've been ghosted.
Or maybe during this great first date, the other person makes a promise of a second date. "I'll call you!" they say. You wait. And you still get ghosted.
After several first meetings with different people, you have your "pitch" down. And frankly, you're getting kind of burned out by it all. But this is a numbers game! The more people you meet, the more pokes you send, the better chance you'll find the one you're looking for. As my former boss would say, "If you want to play the game, you gotta get on the field."
Referrals are so important! When good friends try to match you up and vouch for you, that's when you know you'll at least get that first point of contact. Of course it's no guarantee, but the phrase "it's all about who you know" is true in many cases.
Or you might get set up by an acquaintance (recruiter). This person doesn't really know you that well, but after meeting you, thinks you're great. They say they might have the perfect match for you. This sometimes leads to a first date, or it leads nowhere (more crickets).
Your friends are your champions. They tell you with each rejection, "It's OK! It wasn't the right fit!" or "It's their loss!" or "That just means the right match is still out there waiting for you!"
Maybe after 40 pokes and a few first dates, you meet someone who wants to see you again. Yes! This could go two ways:
You meet again, but you end up in the friend zone. Back to the drawing board. Ugh.
Or, it leads to a relationship! The first few months are fun, exciting and new. You meet new people and try new things. Then you settle in – either for a little while or for the long haul. But either way, you can stop looking for now. And that feels nice.
The Americans: The first two seasons of this show are available on Prime. It's dark, but very interesting. I never really knew much about Russian spies and the Cold War. But if any of this in the show is even a bit of the truth, it's crazy that this is what was going on in the early 80s. Also, how hard was it to be a spy without cell phones and email! I really like the two main characters, even if they do hate Americans and are trying to destroy us.
I'm not sure when more of the seasons will be available (for free), but I think the fifth season just started up again on FX, so it would be nice to keep going.
House of Lies: The first two seasons of this are also available for free on Prime. Tons of swearing, tons of sex. Frankly, they're pretty awful people who do pretty awful things in love and business. It can be a bit depressing, actually, that these people are so self-destructive. But there're some really funny parts, too. And Kristen Bell is in it, and I'd watch her read the phone book, so. (Don Cheadle is excellent too!)
Not sure when this will have more eps available either, but I would keep watching.
The Good Wife: When I heard this show was ending this season, I knew it was the perfect time to start. Stream straight through, no waiting! Like Scandal, this is a delicious surprise. Josh Charles can really do no wrong in my eyes and I enjoy Julianna Margulies, too. It's funny because the first season is filled with guest stars who went on to be in Scandal.
I like that each episode is procedural, but also has Alicia's marriage storyline flowing throughout. To think about why someone would stay with their husband in that situation is interesting.
Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island: My first biography of five I want to read before I'm 40. I had no idea this place existed, that this person existed or of the literal fight she's been a part of for the last 40 years. It's quite amazing.
I learned a lot (more) about the human destruction of wilderness and it makes me sad. I learned so much about sea turtles. That one smart, strong, brave lady could do as much as she has to try to save a small slice of American wilderness is pretty empowering.
Notorious RBG: The second biography of five I want to read before I'm 40 (first two about women! Woo!). I had no idea how amazing Ruth Bader Ginsberg is. I mean, a woman on the Supreme Court must be pretty awesome, but to read, case by case, her fight for equality… it just proved it. She's fought for women. She's fought for men. People of all classes and races.
I loved learning about her childhood. Her fight to go to law school in a time when women weren't really doing that. How many times she herself spoke in front of the Supreme Court in the name of equality BEFORE she even became a member of it. The fact that she was nearly unanimously appointed to the Court. Her marriage to Marty was nothing short of inspiring. That he said, time and again, that he was put on this earth to help her get to where she was meant to be (and he was no slouch either!). I loved that the authors put in sections of her dissents and footnoted them so we could see just how she would stick it to her fellow judges when they made the wrong decision (in her eyes).
I feel badly that she might end her career on the bench in the minority. But knowing she's there for a while longer makes me feel better about some of those rights men are trying to take away from women. She's got our back.
The Girl on the Train: I was late to this party, but the book was worth the wait. A gripping thriller. Great storytelling. I could hardly put it down. Are the characters a mess? Yes. But I liked the suspense of it. Sometimes fast, gripping reads are what I need.
Me Before You, Big Little Lies & Where'd You Go Bernadette?: Read all three of these on the beach and they were the perfect picks for a vacation. Loved the first two for the engagement and speed and fun characters. I would read more by both those authors. I didn't really enjoy Bernadette; she annoyed me and I mostly rolled my eyes.
The Secret Keeper: I really love the way Kate Morton tells her stories. With this book, I found myself reading fast through the present-day stuff to get back to the chapters about the past. But only because I knew that part of the story held the key to everything. While The Forgotten Garden will (I believe) always be my favorite (I should really just read it again), all her books so far have been joys to experience.
In recent years, I've thought about what I would do if I came into a lot (a lot!) of money. And I want to open an assisted living home-nursing home-hospice facility-animal rescue. All located on a big piece of land so we can have chickens and horses and dogs and gardens and beautiful grounds for our residents to live out their final days.
This dream comes from my own experience with a parent's death, but also from bits and pieces I've read about end of life.
Being Mortal hit me right in the heart. Atul Gawande's "Letting Go" in the New Yorker (and also Chapter 7 in this book) was my guiding light when it came to hospice care, and just how beneficial it is as an end-of-life decision for the one who is dying, but also how much stress it can save those who are left behind. The fact that I came across that article at just the right time still feels like a miracle to me.
I knew Being Mortal was a book that expanded on Letting Go and I've wanted to read it for nearly 5 years – I'm not sure why I waited so long. Because really, I wish I would've read this book in the summer of 2010, before my mom had a heart attack and had to go into a care facility for several weeks.
This book covers a few very important issues:
Elder Care: Geriatrics as a profession is decreasing fast, just as our population of elderly people is increasing exponentially. There's no money in it (I mean it's still more money than we'll ever make, but compared to what other doctors make, it's less). Gawande talks about how good geriatric doctors don't focus on FIXING the problems from which older people suffer, but focus instead on MANAGING the problems. Simple things like asking them about their days, adjusting their meds if they feel dizzy (which leads to falls) or just looking at their feet and cutting their freakin' toenails. Those things can make life better. Data shows that people who regularly visit their geriatric doctor live on their own for longer and need less medical intervention/hospitalization.
But the medical industry as a whole thinks it's too expensive so they're cutting/decreasing these programs at medical schools (like at the U of M).
Quality of Life: One of his huge points in the book is that when people become old, what keeps them going is Purpose and Independence. That's why people in nursing homes that are forced into wheelchairs (you might fall!) or to remain bed-bound deteriorate so much faster. Of course all these measures are CYA for nursing homes, but Gawande visited a number of facilities around the country to find just who was doing it BETTER.
One place fought the state to let them have birds in every room, along with two dogs and two cats. Employees were encouraged to bring their children to an on-site daycare. The fact that these residents now had animals to take care of on their own, and children to visit in a daycare? Medical intervention when DOWN by double-digit percentages. One man who never talked or left his bed? Came out one day and said, "Hey, I'll walk the dog today." Three months later – HE LEFT AND WENT HOME. (This place was the beginning of The Green House Project. Look it up.)
Other facilities do everything they can to NOT take away someone's independence and privacy. Rooms/apartments have locks. Kitchens are open to everyone 24-7. You want to eat cakes and cookies? By all means, go ahead, you're an adult! They don't force people into wheelchairs… instead they let them walk as long as they possibly can and manage falls as they come.
End of Life Discussions: Oh, Sarah Palin and every other idiot who calls these "death panels," you suck. One of the greatest gifts given to us was when my mom's doctor sat us all down in her room and talked honestly about the trends he was seeing in her care ("You're back in the hospital every three weeks. Let's talk about why that is. And how we want to proceed."). He was open and honest and took the time to answer all of our questions and her questions. He didn't push more intervention or hospice; he just talked about how her body would react to all the different scenarios. And what did she think would be a more peaceful way to live out her final days. (Hospice was the answer.)
Gawande, a doctor who has found himself in these discussions with his own patients, talks about just how hard it is for doctors to do this. People don't want to die. Of course they don't. So doctors feel a responsibility to do everything they can to prevent it. But people also don't want to live in pain, or not be able to eat, or be bedridden or stuck in the hospital. He talks about how certain questions, like "What things must you be able to do to have a quality life?" can help doctors know just how much to intervene or when to just manage the pain.
The way he writes openly about the mistakes he's made as a doctor, but also how's he grown when it comes to these discussions is so enlightening. And you just hope you (or your parents) get a doctor like him when the time comes.
After an atrocious nursing home experience with my mom – and then a really good one – I felt like I pretty much knew what to look for when it comes up again. I know how important these conversations are to have with my dad and my in-laws and our kids. The more you talk about it, the "easier" it will be.
I feel now, after reading this book, I know even better what's best.
I remember vividly when it happened. I remember sitting in the basement watching the around-the-clock (or at least it seemed like it – it would be now) coverage of the missing boy from St. Joseph. I was 8 almost 9. We watched Paul Magers and Diana Pierce of Kare 11 follow the story, hoping he'd be found. My brother was at college at St. John's in St. Joseph - so we heard his perspective of how that little college town changed on Oct. 22, 1989.
Someone local on Twitter said they don't remember a bigger local news story from their childhood – and I don't really either. Maybe there was, but honestly nothing has stuck with me like Jacob Wetterling. And his face. The fact that he was basically my age. The ribbons – all the ribbons. And his mom. His amazing mom.
The case resurfaces every few years and you always hope.
When I saw the news yesterday that they had a new person of interest, my heart dropped. Tears sprang to my eyes. When I saw the eerie resemblance between the police sketch and this man's picture, I wanted to puke. Because even though I don't know this family, if you have even one ounce of empathy in your body, you want closure for them.
Paul Magers tweeted yesterday, "The #jacobwetterling case was so impactful - I've always personally believed it was a crime that stripped Minnesota of all of its innocence."
I think that's the truth.
I actually have to commend my parents because it doesn't feel like this changed my childhood. I was coming home on the bus alone at age 10. I was riding a bike or walking to my friends' houses alone around that same age. There were no cell phones, just the promise to call them at work when I got home. When I was in junior high, I was walking the 3-mile loop around our lake by myself. (I liked time to myself.) I had a great, free-range childhood.
Today as a parent? I don't think I could be that open or that willing or that trusting of the outside world. It's a fact that for the last 25-30 years, parents have slowly tightened that grip on their kids. It happened so slowly, but it happened. Even if the world is SAFER than it was "back then."
Believe me, I WANT to be free-range. I do. I'm a rational person; I went to journalism school and understand the FACTS; I'm married to a rocket scientist who was born to look at things rationally; I know that the odds of abduction or other dangerous things happening to my children are slim to none. I know they're far more in danger driving in my car with me.
I know.
But when you've had a story like Jacob's in your brain since age 8, then add to it TV shows like CSI or SVU, the 24-hour news cycle, Amber Alerts, and most recently all these stories of CPS being called on GOOD parents who ARE free-range… it's just like, what's the point? Because when I read these news stories today about this man and what he could've have done to multiple boys (or if it wasn't him, then SOMEONE did) it makes me want to throw up. If a tighter hold on my kids keeps them safe from this awfulness, so be it.
If something bad happens to your kids under your watch, it feels so different than if something bad happens when you weren't there – but maybe could've been?
This is so often why I try to live in a bubble. Whether it's irresponsible or not to NOT to think about the hardships and disasters and wars and injustices around the world, sometimes that's just easier, you know? It's how you can get out of bed in the morning and drop your kids off at places where they stay all day without you. It's how you let your spouse go off to work in a dangerous profession. It's how you watch a daughter go off to college… and arm her with mace.
For as long as I'm alive I will shed tears for Jacob. He represents all the pain of all the kids who have had to endure anything like this. He represents our innocence lost, yet also our fight to hold on.
Inside/Out: I didn't get a chance to see this in the theater but finally got to watch it this past weekend now that it's out on Vudu. It's a sweet story and there are so many things to love about it. I love that it takes place in a girl's brain. I love that it looks into the complicated parts of the brain, like memory and subconscious and all those things we DO and DON'T remember.
I love the message that we can't be happy all the time (and I love Joy's journey to discover this truth) and that we oftentimes need the sadness to make the happiness. I also loved how it visually shows how becoming too sad or too depressed can literally erase the good memories or the happy times from your brain – and how you have to REALLY work to get those back.
Oftentimes in life I feel like a Joy – someone who dances a jig just to make the people around me happy or get out of their funk. But I also know how important it is to be sad and how sadness shapes who you are, too. Great movie.
Wild (movie): I read Wild a while ago, but just recently watched the film. And it was fine. I think Reese Witherspoon gave a good effort to be raw and depressed, but I did not totally buy her as Strayed. The movie seems to just touch on all the messages in the book (and I liked, but didn't love, the book) but not enough to make it very meaningful. Again, it was fine.
Sonic Highways (series): We love the Foo Fighters in our house, so this was an amazingly enjoyable eight hours. Even if Dave and the band are researching their influences in the eight different cities, you still learn a whole freakin' lot about music history. I honestly feel it's a great docuseries that everyone (music buffs) should watch – whether you're a Foo fan or not. Dave asks good questions and dives deep into some great or unknown parts of music history. I loved the Nashville and New Orleans episodes a ton. Austin comes in a close third.
Sonic Highways the album kicks ass, too.
Veep: Oh my gosh, this show. I consumed the first four seasons as quickly as I could. It is so hilarious, if only for the way it perfectly curses. I've watched West Wing, House of Cards and now this and Veep is the perfect in between. It's perfectly ridiculous, with a bit of West Wing's sincerity and a bit of House of Cards corruption. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a rock start, and her supporting cast is a dream. I cannot wait for season 5.
Girls: Huh. I may be too old for this show. I watched Sex in the City pretty much as it aired. I think I dug that show so much because the women were older than me, and more glamorous. They also were really good friends to each other. But these Girls? I roll my eyes at them and I find them so self-absorbed; I sometimes want to kick Hannah in the teeth. And Marni. Plus, they're AWFUL friends to each other. Just awful. That is not how I know friendship.
I fall on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial and I don't see myself in any of these Girls.
The Comeback: This was a fun way to get back in touch with a 'Friend.' Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish is pretty phenomenal. It's often painful to watch, as she tries to stand up for herself against mean people, and really sad to watch her get screwed over when she's just trying to make her "comeback." But there're many, many funny parts – and it's an interesting look at how TV is made.
The Martian (book and movie): I quickly read The Martian before we went to see the movie. I really enjoyed the book. It was engaging and pretty thrilling and could keep me on the edge of my seat. I only skimmed a bit at the beginning when there was a lot of technical talk that meant nothing to me.
The movie was also really good. I wondered how they would get his fear and frustration across without being able to use all the book's swearing, but the movie did a good job. I liked all the actors, too. They fit the parts. There was excitement throughout and lots of humor. I was a little disappointed (as often am with books-to-movies) that certain parts I found important to the story were left out. And also I didn't love the changes to the ending – but can totally see WHY they would up the excitement factor for the ending of a movie.
I'm not really a music person. I just like what I like. That might be Sheryl Crow or Foo Fighters or a little old-time Neil Diamond because it makes me feel nostalgic and warm inside.
My company has a Song of the Day email group and I got on it but was too intimidated to ever "curate" a week. Because what if people judged my songs? But then after a while I said screw it, and decided to curate two different weeks.
Here were my choices.
Women Who Rock Week
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: This lady right here proves that you can "make it" at any age, like, say, being nominated for your first Grammy at age 58. She brought 60s and 70s funk and soul to the ears of those of us born post-1980.
Here's "Stranger to My Happiness," where Sharon not only rocks it but also rocks her post-chemo, beautiful bald head. She emits strength.
Liz Phair: What can be said about Liz besides that the self-produced Exile in Guyville is pure brilliance. Here's a woman who's not afraid of her sexuality or what people think of her. She's also not afraid of a little (or a lot) of cursing. She broke down a lot of barriers for what it means to be a woman in music. And at nearly 50, she's freakin' hot.
It's hard to pick my favorite song of hers – she's crossed over to more pop-rock in recent years – but "Divorce Song" is always one I turn up and belt out (privately, in my car).
Carole King: Let's take it back. She's a legend. Tapestry held the record for the most weeks at No. 1 (15 weeks) for 20 years (until Whitney broke it with The Bodyguard soundtrack).
"Where You Lead" is my go-to lullaby. I still sing it nearly every night. (It's also awesome because it was the theme song for Gilmore Girls – another pop culture example of whip-smart females representing.)
Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley: While Rilo Kiley is no more (or is it?), several of Jenny Lewis' songs speak to me. They're anthems for tough times. Or inspiration for something better.\
My favorite of hers is "A Better Son/Daughter." I cranked it during a rough patch. My favorite verse.
"But the lows are so extreme that the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence
But you'll fight and you'll make it through
You'll fake it if you have to
And you'll show up for work with a smile"
Hayley Williams/Paramore : Ladies can appreciate her powerful femininity. Everyone can appreciate her set of lungs. Paramore's been paying dues since they were teenagers. Hayley's success at age 26 is quite amazing. I saw Paramore perform last year and Ms. Williams just Kicks Ass.
"Last Hope" is my favorite single from the band's most recent album. It's best heard live.
Acoustic Week
Dave Grohl: Foo Fighters' Wasting Light came out the day my mom went into hospice. I listened to it every day as I drove to and from their house to be with her. I love the album in its entirety, but "Walk" is the song I still can't listen to without tears forming in the corner of my eyes.
Dave says he wrote "Walk" after his daughter Violet took her first steps. But I think he knows there're multiple meanings behind "learning to walk again."
Sarah Blackwood: "Wrecking Ball" is probably the only Miley Cyrus song I can name, and it's because of Sarah's (and Jenni and Emily's) version of it. It's hauntingly beautiful.
Billy Corgan: Smashing Pumpkins is my husband's most favorite band. I support his fandom, of course, but have never joined him there. However, Billy went on a special 10-city acoustic tour this summer and we saw him in June. Billy acoustic is much more my speed. It was a great show.
Here's "Tonight, Tonight" acoustic from a couple years ago.
Ingrid Michaelson: Her biggest hit by far, I've loved "The Way I Am" since the day it came out back in 2007.
Grace Potter: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals have been around for a more than a decade, but I only discovered them recently with "Stars." The studio version really showcases Grace's vocal power, but this acoustic version is just so lovely, too. It makes me think of my mom, out there just beyond my reach.
10 years ago today, my life changed. My favorite show of all time - all time! - ended. No more new FRIENDS. Fortunately, the show's in syndication until 2088 or something (plus I own all the seasons), so I can rewatch it any time I want. So, in honor of this anniversary (also, how fast did 10 years go?!)....
I've been meaning to write this forever, but when you love a show so much and you try to pick just a few of some 200 episodes… well, it's like picking favorite children (OK, not really). Each one has at least a nugget or two that means something to me. I can watch nearly any episode for the 20th time and love it just as much as the first time. Maybe more.
(Important to note, I consider the Thanksgiving episodes their own category. I love many of those equally, so I didn't list them here.)
On with the list. The best episodes, in my mind, are the ones when all the Friends are in one room together… or are all involved in the same storyline. Another reason why T-Day episodes are standouts.
The One Where No One's Ready: I can recite this episode word for word. It's a classic. The Joey/Chandler fight, the Monica freak out, anal Ross, Phoebe's political statement, Rachel "catching up on her correspondence." I can't even pick a favorite part because I love it all so much.
Best Line: There are too many. "The cushions are the essence of the chair!" "I'm Chandler. Could I BE wearing any more clothes?" "Monica, I think you've gone over to the BAD PLACE." "Donald Duck never wore pants…" "I'm breezy!" "You can't say you're breezy! That totally negates the breezy!" (The fact that Joey knows how to properly use the word 'negates' is questionable, yet enjoyable.)
The One With the Embryos: This is a CLOSE second. The quiz game is unreal in its hilarity. I love how well they know each other – it's really a special quality to find in friends. I also love Phoebe's sweet side story line, with her petri dish pep talk and funny lines, "OK, where am I giving birth, in a hospital or a big box under the stairs?"
Best Line: Too many! But probably, "His legs flail about as if independent from his body!"
The One Where Everyone Finds Out: I still remember watching this episode live and laughing so hysterically in our basement my mom came down to see what the heck was going on. The opening when Phoebe sees through the window ("My eyes! MY EYES!") is probably the best part. But I also love the cat and mouse game they play to get Chandler to crack.
Best Line: "What about my pinchable butt and my bulging biceps? SHE KNOWS!"
The One with the Prom Video: Some of the flashback episodes are hit or miss; they can get a little carried away. But this was our first peek at the past and it was really sweet. I love that it's the other Friends' first peek at the past, too, and the fact the Ross uncomfortably knows what's coming and Rachel doesn't. And the end is the best.
Best Line: Insert anything about lobsters here.
This was a better year for books than last year. I made my goal of 20 books, even with having a baby thrown in there. Here are my favorite books of the year (books I read, not books published, in 2013).
Divergent Trilogy: Once again (as with Hunger Games and Twilight), I did this right by not realizing this trilogy even existed until about a month before the last book came out. I really liked it, too! It was an interesting concept all the way through the end, almost to the point where I could see our real world imploding on itself like that (in a way). I was fine with the ending, too, even though other fans were threatening Roth with death (COME. ON.) because of it. A fun, fast read all around.
Eleanor & Park: People all over Twitter were reading this so I picked it up to see what the fuss was about. It's such a sweet, endearing and heartbreaking story. Teenagers in love. It brings you back. I loved nearly every word.
Tiny Beautiful Things: This was a nice change of pace from my usual novel. I really enjoyed Strayed's advice columns and how she presented her advice as well. I liked this much more over Wild, even though you can't really compare the two.
Winter Sea: I found a historical novel that rivals The Forgotten Garden in loveliness. I hope to read more of her books.
Fault in Our Stars: Another book people just rave about and I was a little late in the game to. But I loved this book and how truthful and raw it felt. Green speaks from the teenage (much less a teenage girl) perspective really well. I loved the joking and sarcasm. I loved the parents, especially since now when I read it, I read it more from that perspective than from the child's, like if I read it in high school or something. Wonderful.
Waiting for Birdy: I read this at the perfect time, with a toddler boy at home waiting for a baby girl, just like the author. Nearly everything she wrote struck me, and I was recently alerted to another article she wrote awhile back, and once again, she reads my freakin' mind.
End of Your Life Book Club: I already wrote a complex post about this book, but it touched me on several levels. Great read, for both readers but also those struggling with a parent's death.
You might also like my previous end of the year roundups: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
What books did you love in 2013?
Wait it Out Bingo: My good friend Katie alerted me to this piece and I think it's so clever. I always want to think I can be the mom who will let my child CIO, but let's face it, I'm spent after 5 minutes. So, at least this Bingo card on why my baby is awake adds some humor to the literally exhausting situation.
My additions: fireworks (someday I'll like those again), tired mama bumping rocking horse into crib, doorbell, mama having a coughing fit while laying on nursery floor, etc.
I'm Not Sorry and You Shouldn't Be Either by Denise Schipani: I've always been a big proponent of saying no to keep your sanity. When it comes right down to it, my family and my time comes before everything else. But sometimes I look at the messy house or the fact that I skip many events and feel bad (...but not really). I'm thankful Schipani tells me I don't have to feel sorry.
Zombie Story: This is old, but I only just discovered it. Toy Story and Walking Dead (two things I love) have very similar themes. It's hilarious.
Now We Are Five by David Sedaris: Besides the fact that I will consume anything he writes, I appreciated this piece for how well Sedaris writes about the death of a loved one who you might not actually be that close to. But it still matters. Great piece.
Bravery As Defined By an Accidental Housewife: I love the sentiment that we're all brave and courageous just doing what we're doing every day – wiping butts, cleaning house, going to work, being parents. Her last graph says it all:
"In reality I am someone who has never stopped feeling frustrated and uneasy with a messy house, who cringes when people wipe snot on her shoulder, and who still dry heaves herself when anyone around her throws up. I wish I were more naturally tolerant of these things, but I'm not, and so for me the challenge I must rise to lately is the daily endurance of these discomforts. It's not quite as exciting or special feeling as having a baby, true, and it might not look brave to the outside world, but some days it takes all the grit I've got. This is my current adventure, my life affirming challenge: not to endure pain or push myself to any physical limits, not to earn a new certificate or find a new career, but to help a kid wipe milk off the floor for the twentieth time in a week without resenting it. To know that to the child who spilled the milk, my attitude does matter."
What are you loving this week?
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Two of my favorite shows from the last decade are The Office and Parks & Rec, so it really shouldn't have been a surprise that I would dig Brooklyn Nine-Nine since it was created by Office/P&R writers/creators. It's my favorite new fall show. It took an episode or two to really like the characters (it took that for P&R, too), but Andy Samberg is really good at sitcom acting, Andre Braugher plays a hilarious, ahem, straight man, and the supporting players quickly grew on me. Good show.
Toy Story of Terror: I love Toy Story. All of them. A lot. And that's a good thing, because in the last year or so, I've watched A LOT of Toy Story. (My kid cracks me up by quoting Spanish Buzz, "Senorita? Dondé esta?!") The husband and I checked out Toy Story of Terror, which premiered the other night. The cleverness just doesn't go away with this brand. On a road trip with Bonnie, the toys find themselves in a run-down, roadside motel and get in a bit of a pickle when they explore during the night. While I think it might be a tad frightening for my preschooler, it's still remarkable for a 30-minute special.
Promised Land by the Milk Carton Kids: I always find new songs to love in the ending montages of TV shows and this one was on last week's episode of Bones. After looking them up, looks like the Milk Carton Kids are group that's just starting to make a big name for itself. I'm never in the know about breakout stars, but I think this group has a big future. (Other songs from TV shows I've instantly downloaded: Cloud Cult's You Were Born from HIMYM, Joshua Radin's My My Love from Parenthood (I get many songs from this show), Rilo Kiley's Arms Outstretched from Weeds, etc.)
Take Your Licks by Amy Poehler: Just when you think you can't love her more, she writes a sweet essay like this one. My favorite line, "It's important to know when it's time to turn in your kazoo."
Mike Derheim's TEDx Talk: He talks about engaging your workforce and how Millennials aren't entitled, they just want to be empowered… and employers aren't doing this. At his company, The Nerdery (always named a top place to work in Minnesota), everyone is co-president. It's not about rules and regulations; it's about less of those things. "Why not let people pick their own hours? Why not show people the picture of success and get out of their way while they try to achieve it?" Bravo, man. There's a reason he's grown his company to 450 extremely happy employees in just 10 years.


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Thessaloniki holidays
Thessaloniki is one of the few European cities with such a long and unbroken history. It is a city that lived and live, a city of a metropolitan and urban character, a city that experienced very culturalism, a city that has seen conquerors and disasters, prestige and financial strength, a city that has composed the story of the diversity of its inhabitants .
It was founded by King Cassander of Macedonia. The town soon became a commercial and cultural center of both Macedonia and the Balkans. Today is one of the largest metropolitan centers in the Mediterranean basin.
Lovers of history will be excited from their holiday in Thessaloniki as there is a wealth of archaeological sites from one end of the city to the other.
With its own pace of life, slower and more humane, the city of Thessaloniki wins visitors by offering many pleasures. Theaters, coffeehouses, bakeries, cinemas, nightclubs, art exhibitions and lecture halls offer a variety of entertainment.
During your holidays in Thessaloniki you will have the opportunity to hang around in town, walk along the beach, beneath the White Tower and near the ancient city walls to arrive at the castles, at Tsinari and Upper Town from where you can enjoy a unique view. You can also visit the Forest Hill of Kedrinou with its cafe, an oasis of pleasure which hugs the city, the Forest Theatre, the zoo and the Museum of Natural History. Great escape for those who love nature, hiking, and for those who want to make a picnic in the countryside, the forest Hill Kedrinou is also a shelter for many birds and small animals.
Enjoy your coffee at Aristotelous Square, overlooking the port of Thessaloniki. Visit Ladadika and tsipouradika at Athonos Square and the Bit Bazaar, where even today you will find many antiquaries of the city.
Located 20 kilometers from the center, on top of a hill, Heaven hotel in Thessaloniki offers magnificent view of Thermaikos bay. Make your reservation and discover Thessaloniki history and sights!


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When you were a child were you told not to slurp during a meal? If that memory still lingers and the urge to do some slurping is still prevalent, attending a coffee cupping might be right up your alley.
Slurping coffee during coffee cupping rituals is the actually the preferred method to bring the full coffee flavor to the back of the palette. Cupping is a process used to evaluate and compare coffees on a level playing field. Professional organizations such as the Specialty Coffee Association of America have specific cupping protocols to assess the quality of the coffee. While these protocols are very scientific and rigorous, many individuals have started cupping casually as a social pastime to expand their taste buds to the nuances in coffee.
It may sound strange, but the best way of tasting coffee in these cupping rituals is not by drinking it straight from the cup, it's best to use a spoon and not just any old spoon. Cupping, the professional term used for tasting coffee, is performed by using a deep spoon to ensure the coffee sprays all over the inside of the mouth and providing the full flavor to all the taste buds.
So if you're in the mood for a little slurping, or simply want to revert to your childhood days, think about attending a coffee cupping. Many local roasters and cafes hold cupping events and it's a great way to learn more about coffee and expand your coffee education. Or, if you like you can host your own cupping event. CoffeeGeek.com offers a comprehensive beginner's guide to cupping on their website with step-by-step instructions.
Have fun and slurp away my friends!
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1) How do I become a CRE teacher?
Volunteers are required to go through an accreditation process and this involves the following:
2) What is the weekly time commitment for being a CRE teacher?
CRE is usually taught for 30 minutes once a week. In addition to this a teacher needs to allow time for preparation. Preparation time varies but a new teacher should expect to spend at least two hours preparing per week.
3) Can I stop being a CRE teacher at any time?
There is an expectation that in becoming a CRE teacher, where at all possible, you commit to a minimum of one year of teaching.
4) Which school can I teach at?
We will endeavour to place you at a school in the area of your choice.
5) When can I start teaching?
Once you have completed Steps 1-4 above you are able to begin helping in a school. However before teaching a class alone, you will need to have completed Steps 1-6.
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It is important that you notify your Team Leader of your absence as early as possible. They will work with you to find a replacement teacher for the weeks you will be away.
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The Team Leader at your school will organise the curriculum material for you.
If you would like to find out more information, or you would like to apply to become a CRE teacher, enter your details below and we will contact you.
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Last week, President Obama hinted at an idea that could hit New York, New Jersey and other high-tax states where it hurts: in their residents' right to deduct state and local tax tabs from their federal tax bills.
In the wake of his still shaky deal with Republicans to keep the Bush tax cuts for two years, Obama seized the offensive last Thursday. "We're going to have a big debate about taxes," he promised. "We've got to have tax reform . . . We've got to simplify the system."
That means poring through the federal tax code line by line to kill off as many special-interest tax breaks as possible. That way, we may have money to cut corporate rates and still bring in as much federal revenue or more than today's code.
Obama's right — we need to do this job. In the quarter-century since the Reagan tax reform (which allowed the top rate to drop by more than a quarter, from 50 percent to 33 percent), special tax breaks have piled up again. Today, taxpayers spend a trillion dollars a year on tax goodies.
Realize: These tax breaks are more like government spending than any actual tax cut. Each break lets someone pay less to the government than he otherwise would, because Uncle Sam officially approves of his behavior. Those who don't engage in that behavior have to pay more to make up the difference.
If you sell your house at a profit, you probably don't have to pay any tax on the gain — because someone else is paying a tax on profit from some other, perhaps more productive, investment.
Many tax breaks make little sense — a special interest has simply persuaded the right people in Congress to grant a favor — but the biggest breaks have a lot of beneficiaries, such as those for home mortgages and health insurance.
Another biggie is the break for state and local taxes. The feds lose about $50 billion a year in allowing people to deduct some state and local tax payments from their income. (Most everyone can deduct some property taxes, although they have to choose between income or sales taxes.)
This break plainly subsidizies higher spending in higher-tax states. It means that if you're living in New York, Connecticut or New Jersey (all in the top 10 on the Tax Foundation's list of highest-tax states), you're paying more into state and local coffers partly because Washington subsidizes your state's tax collection.
So if the feds end this tax break, more affluent earners in these states — that is, people who itemize their deductions — would have to pay significantly more.
Supporters of that reform will say it's only fair. The pain wouldn't really be the feds' fault. These taxpayers should pressure governors, mayors and legislatures to keep taxes (and spending) down.
Of course, this is a tough tax break to kill. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan's tax-reform panel wanted to end state and local tax deductions. But state leaders, led by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, marshaled their wealthier residents to fight the proposal, calling it a "rip-off" and not reform.
Reagan quickly found that pitting high-tax states against low-tax ones didn't work as a political strategy. Even low-tax states were adamant about keeping their deductibility and didn't much care whether other states benefited more. Reagan ditched the idea, rather than see tax reform die.
Yet the Alternative Minimum Tax adds another wrinkle to any new reform drive. It reduces the value of almost all tax breaks, so wealthier taxpayers already face big limits on their ability to deduct state and local taxes. It might be harder to mobilize anger at reform that ends the deduction for everyone, this time around.
Yet even talk of ending this tax break could instill some useful fear. If New Yorkers who earn in the low six figures — that is, people who still benefit from deductibility — worry that tax reform will compound state and local tax hikes, they may oppose such hikes even more forcefully.
In an environment where pols are running scared of new levies, headlines on how state and local taxes could cost New Yorkers even more, thanks to potential change in federal policy, could make the pols run a little faster.
Certainly, any discussion of tax reform will serve as another alarm for Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo. Even if the feds ultimately shy away from hitting state and local taxes, Washington, as it struggles to close its own budget deficits, likely won't be offering more aid to cities and states anytime soon.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute's City Journal.


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I received a ReliefBand in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Are you planning a Spring Break vacation somewhere? We have decided to take the kids to the Dominican Republic and are very excited about the trip. The one thing I am not really excited about is the plane ride and even the ride to the airport as I have been suffering from vertigo and anything can basically give me motion sickness and if you ever had that, then you know it is not fun at all!
I was looking for possible solutions for my problem when I found the ReliefBands.
The Relief bands utilizes neuromodulation, technology which basically uses the body's natural neural pathways to regulate the various stimulus mechanisms causing motion sickness through small electric shockwaves that the ReliefBand delivers when you need it.
How does it work?
The ReliefBand is design to easily and efficiently deliver those electric waves I mentioned before.
To use the ReliefBand, all you need to do is apply a small amount of the clear, odorless gel that is included with the band right between the tendons on your wrist, ( this will help with the delivery of the electric waves via the median nerve).
After you have put on the band and adjusted it to a comfortable setting, then just press the power button on the middle of device. There are 5 settings that you can increase by pressing on the power button until you find a level that is comfortable for you.
The levels are marked 1-5 with one being the lower setting…The small shockwave might take you by surprise at first, but remember; you can increase or lower its strength as you wish.
I am comfortable with the 3-4 setting. One thing I would like to add, is that if you are doing things with that hand, the wave might feel stronger when you make certain movements and again, it takes a bit to get used to that.
The band is very comfortable and lightweight. The straps are made of nylon which is great for people like myself with sensitive skin. On the back of the unit, you will find two metal plates that are responsible for delivering the waves. These however, can cause an allergic reaction for people with certain metal allergies, for which the brand recommends to switch arms every 2-3 hours. If you are thinking, that is too much of a hassle, then you have probably haven't had a bad case of morning/ motion sickness where you'd be willing to do anything to get it to stop.
You might not know this if you are new to the blog, but I suffered from Hyperemesis with both of my pregnancies, which is morning sickness to its maximum and it kept me in bed for about 7-8 months…So when I say I am prone to motion sickness, I really mean that. So switching arms and a little tingling sensation is something that I would had been happy to endure if it gave me any relief.
As for now, I have been using the band for a few days and it does help with my vertigo which I really appreciate!
The ReliefBand have a retail price of $94.99 and will be coming with me on my upcoming trip.
Win it:
ReliefBand has kindly offered one lucky Born 2 Impress reader, the chance to win a free motion sickness band!
Please use the Giveaway Tools form for ALL entries. Except for the initial comment. Please leave comments containing 3 – 4 sentences in order to qualify- Comments like I like this or I want to win will not count! Contest open to the US residents with a valid street address. No PO Boxes please. This contest is void where prohibited. Winner(s) are selected randomly through the use Giveaway Tools unless otherwise noted and will be announce on the contest closing date. To claim your prize(s), you must contact Born 2 Impress within 48 hours of the contest closing Prize(s) not claimed by (48 hours) will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.
Please provide a valid email address to be informed in case you do win a giveaway. Please note ALL entries are checked for accuracy and will be validated. Clicking on "enter" ensures that your task has been completed. If your task has not been completed, your entry will not be counted and will be considered invalid. If you are chosen as the winner of this contest and you have not completed the task(s) that you claim to complete, a new winner will be randomly chosen. So please be sure that you have completed a task before clicking "enter"thank you for your co-operation.
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive any compensation for this review. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


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Friday, 1 September 2006
Coming soon...
To celebrate its third anniversary, the BPS Research Digest will be bringing you a showcase of psychological science as the world's best psychology bloggers discuss their favourite study from the last three years.
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Jan 28th – High School Sports
Was able to get to the swim meet at AHS yesterday. First time shooting a swim meet! Got some really nice shots, maybe not sports illustrated quality, but pretty good! the meet was between AHS and Mansfield High School, Mansfield won. Click HERE to go to the gallery. I forgot how warm and humid it … Continue reading


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"People dictating our success stories"
Achieving success was never easy but the value of achievement lies in achieving. Here at Techno Softwares we have made stories that are worth shouting about. Together as a team we have achieved many milestones and people have become an evidence to our continues success making.
It is true that all achievements require time and we have utilized our time to make a success story in our name. The achievements of our organization are a result of the combined efforts of each individual working here.
Our success stories narrated by our clients have made it crystal clear that we have been more dedicated to make solid achievements than running after synthetic happiness.


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Before you walk into my life...
You need to know something about me. You need to know that I'm a very insecure person, I have a very low self esteem, I'm not perfect, I'm everything but perfect. I find it hard to trust people now. I've made mistakes in the past, and I've learnt to live with them. I've learnt to accept people for who they really are, it's not hard. Sometimes, I can't be bothered anymore. Sometimes I don't even want to be alive, but, the thing is, I have a million reasons to be alive and I just haven't found them yet. I miss the people that I shouldn't even think about anymore. I've liked, I've loved, I've been hurt. I have hurt people. I'm not perfect. But hey, this is me. And before you walk into my life, you need to know these things. Because, if you walk into my life, you can't walk out of my life when things are getting hard. Just like all the other people did.
I want to know how many scars you have
and memorize the shape of your tongue.
I want to climb the curve of your lower back
and count your vertebrae
your ribs
your fingers
your goosebumps.
I want to chart the topography of your anatomy
and be fluent in your body language.
I want you, entire.
In your love, my salvation lies.


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Ailens are always (well, maybe not always...) creepy and I've always wanted to do a look with "fake eyes", so I figured I'd do a classic alien look. Contouring is an important part of this look because you want to make your face thin at the bottom and rounded around the forehead. The eyes are simply drawn on with gel liner followed by a matte black eyeshadow. Then, to add some life to them I did the light reflections with a white gel liner and put some shimmery white eyeshadow on top.
I must confess that I have a severe fear of clowns (no, I'm not joking...). Fear of clowns is called coulorophobia and is more common than one might think. I tend to be more scared of the "normal" clowns that you see at circuses than of these kinds of psycho-killer-clowns though. :P Makes no sense, I guess...
Anyways, this look I learned from a tutorial on youtube which you can see here --> Killer Clown
So what are you guys going to dress up as on Halloween? :) Do you prefer really scary Halloween costumes/makeup or are more into the cool/pretty/sexy kinds?
Thank you so much for reading! :)


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Are You Fishing for Bedroom Furniture? Here's What You Should Look at
When you've had a busy and tiresome day at work, you need a space where you can relax and have a private chat with yourself. Such a space is your bedroom and turning this room into a true oasis will depend on your personal style. With unlimited bedroom furniture collections, you can tune your space into a luxury unwinding destination.
From traditional to contemporary upscale furniture collections, all the way to some classical pieces furniture, your master room is set to radiate a cool and cozy impression. That is why before you settle for furniture, it's vital to consider the specific t


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Midnight Snack in the Caf
Midnight Snack in the Caf
To help everyone refuel and take a break from studying during finals, Sodexo campus dining will host Midnight Snack in the Caf on Monday, December 3, from 10 p.m. - midnight in the Jack Hopper Dining Hall. The menu for the event will be various breakfast options and there will also be music. There will also be an ice cream bar with various toppings.
If any faculty or staff wish to participate please contact the catering department at ext. 5555 or email Bryant Whaley.
Good luck with your finals!


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Prostate and LUTS
This recording originally took place on 13 February 2018.
You will be sent the recording, presentation slides and certificate once payment has been made. The webinar recordings will only be available to view until Thursday 28 February 2019.
Individual fee £35 or all 3 webinars in the series for £99
Other webinars in the series:
Erectile Dysfunction
Audience: GPs (all grades)
What will this session cover?
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men are caused by a group of disorders affecting the prostate and bladder that share a similar clinical manifestation. National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines define LUTS as comprising storage, voiding and post-micturition symptoms affecting the lower urinary tract. Voiding symptoms include weak or intermittent urinary stream, straining, hesitancy, terminal dribbling and incomplete emptying. Storage symptoms include urgency, increased frequency, urgency incontinence and nocturia.
The major post-micturition symptom is post-micturition dribbling, which is common and bothersome. Although LUTS do not usually cause severe illness, they can considerably reduce men's quality of life, and may point to serious pathology of the urogenital tract. Storage LUTS are often more prevalent and more bothersome than voiding LUTS and are often related to underlying bladder dysfunction that may be secondary to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE), or may arise due to other metabolic and hormonal factors affecting bladder physiology. Clinicians should consider all possible causes of LUTS prior to treatment. These include problems with fluid intake, medical conditions such as diabetes or heart failure, and other urological conditions such as overactive bladder or urethral stricture. However, the most common association of male LUTS is BPE secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prevalence of BPH increases with age and approximately 25% to 50% of men with BPH have LUTS.
There is considerable evidence that LUTS and sexual dysfunction are strongly linked. Recognition of these links can be important because:
- They improve understanding of the aetiology of the conditions
- They enable patients to connect conditions and risk factors
- They can inform case finding and screening strategies
- They can identify co-morbidities
- They can affect the choice of appropriate treatment, which may include alpha blockers, 5 ARI drugs, anti-muscarinic drugs, desmopressin and PDE5 inhibitors. Lifestyle measures and pelvic floor muscle exercises are also important.
CPD Certificate of participation
Booking this webinar will give you a 10% discount for BMJ Learning
Flexible distance learning
Watch in your own time
1 CPD hour
Includes speaker presentation slides
Dr Mike Kirby
GP, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and Visiting Professor
Michael Kirby has been a GP and vocational trainer in Letchworth, Hertfordshire 1973- 2008. He was the Director of HertNet (The Hertfordshire Primary Care Research Network) 1998-2008. He is currently, Visiting Professor to the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire and attending physician to the Prostate Centre, London. He qualified at St Mary's Hospital, London before working as a Cardiology Registrar, and subsequently Hospital Practitioner at the QEII Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, an Associate Member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons and a member of the Institute for Diabetes in Older people. He is Editor in Chief of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Journal, and his other editorial responsibilities include, the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, the British Journal of Cardiology, Geriatric Medicine, Trends in Urology and Men's Health and the International Journal of Clinical Practice. He also holds membership of several NHS advisory boards. He has published more than 400 clinical papers and 30 books. His special interests include cardiology, diabetes, osteoporosis, men's health, urology, and education. When away from work he can be seen cycling the lanes of Hertfordshire.


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Get Active or Active Calories?
In yesterday's newspaper, the health and fitness section had a a story with tips from The Active Calorie Diet. The concept isn't new that all calories are not created equal. The concept that 1 gram of carbohydrates equals 4 calories is, after all, just a statistical average. Some calorie sources will yield more calories, some less. The premise of this book is consuming those foods that yield fewer calories. That is, they require more energy to digest.
The first two tips taken from the book that the article author submits are: (1) Eat plenty of low-fat protein (lean meats, eggs, and low-fat dairy and (2) Focus on fiber. However, if you're going after low-fat animal based sources of protein, then you're definitely not focusing on fiber. There's a simpler way! Whole, plant foods provide plenty of protein and fiber too!
Another tip from the book suggests adding spices with capsaicin (like hot pepper) to foods will burn "an extra 10 to 20 calories per day." What's the point in obsessing over details like that? My advice has always been to get the bulk of your diet right; that is, eat plants, the more of them better. Small details like adding spice matter, but they don't make a big difference. Start by getting your diet mostly right (you know you are when people are shocked at how much vegetable matter you're putting down), then worry about the details.


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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
BURNING KINGDOM: "Simplified"
Label: Avispa Music 2013
Review by Kimmo Toivonen
Earlier this year we did an interview with Burning Kingdom main man Manuel Seoane. He had assembled a new band featuring three Swedish musicians and the one and only Danny Vaughn of Tyketto on lead vocals, and was pretty excited over this new album. He had every reason to be, as he and the band have succeeded in recording a very good album.
"Simplified" is a good title for the album. It's a bit rough around the edges, the production isn't as smooth and polished as some other releases, but in a way that gives it a warm and "human" sound. Vaughn's vocals sound really live, it sounds like they haven't been filtered or autotuned to match "modern day production values", which is actually a good thing.
Speaking of "modern day production values", I must mention the intro "Stay Awake". Apparently it was put together by the producer, and the band had nothing to do with it. They actually asked it to be removed, but in the end the label decided to use it, bcause "valuable studio time had been spent on it". That's pretty crazy, as it doesn't suit the album at all, featuring electronic sounds and spoken words (or is that rapping?) with a bad accent… when I heard it I thought I had put a wrong CD into the player!
The actual Burning Kingdom music on the album is something altogether different. Tyketto fans will find a lot to enjoy, even though some of the tracks are slightly more metallic with Seoane throwing in some really wicked riffs. Some of the best songs for my money are the first single "Watching As It Burns", the melodic and quite Tykettoesque "From On High" and the keyboard-heavy title-track. "That's My Boogie" is probably the weakest of them, confirming again that if there's a "Boogie" in the songtitle, then I cannot possibly like it… strange but true.
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The ratings for Sunday's 2.5-hour "Lost" finale came in yesterday, and they were impressive: 13.5 million viewers and a 5.8 share of the 18-49 demographic. It was by far Sunday's most-watched program, as well as as the most-watched episode of "Lost" in over two years. But where does it stack up against other show finales? Well, right about 55th all-time — just behind the finales of "Wings," "JAG," and "Mr. Belvedere," and slightly ahead of "The King of Queens." Ouch.
Of course, you have to consider the circumstances. Sitcoms are much easier to drop in on than serial dramas, and more importantly, cable and DVR have permanently changed the landscape of television ratings, to the point that I'm not impressed that 106 million people watched the "M*A*S*H" finale — I feel sorry that they didn't have more options.
Perhaps a better comparison for "Lost" is the "X-Files" finale: both shows worked in the realm of sci-fi mysteries and had fan bases that extended outside of general geekdom. In 2002, before DVR, "The X-Files" finale got 13.2 million voters, putting it at 60th all-time. So by that standard, "Lost" was a resounding success.
But still: "Mr. Belvedere." Ha ha.