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Hervey Bay is one of the stunning locations in Australia, which keep on attracting tourists through the year. It's just not the season thing, but rather the attractions like whale watch, bay watch, and the great sea beaches, which bring in people here all around the year. If you are also planning a trip to this one of the most visited destinations in the Australian subcontinent, then you must plan it nice, so that the vacation is worth remembering throughout your life, and that you feel like returning to the mesmerizing beach destination in the future again. That is what makes the essence of a nice accommodation in Hervey Bay a must.
Plan it right
Any nice place can become even more interesting, relaxing, exciting and worth remembering when you plan it right. And a good vacation planning starts from the selection of the place where you would be staying, which makes selection of accommodation in Hervey Bay important. Hotels and lodges are just fine, and you would get them in plenty in any tourist destination. But they are usually not that great to make it special for you. Hence, when you want to make it special, you must plan for a villa or resort. And in Hervey Bay, there are some of the best resorts to give this splendid feel to you and your family.
Any accommodation Hervey Bay has consists of great facilities like:
· One or two roomed apartments
· Private pool
· Private balcony
· Multi featured bathrooms
· Fully furnished kitchens
· Furnished drawing rooms
· Covered parking for a small car or SUV
Other amenities like queen sized bed, electronics and necessary equipment, hot and cold water, air conditioning in every room, great lighting and ceiling fans, etc. are the kind of mandates, which are a must to make the stay comfortable from all respects. More details at Santalina on Hervey Bay.
Things you may enjoy with the right accommodation
When you have rented such a Hervey Bay accommodation, then you can enjoy any or all the following:
· You can swim in your personal swimming pool
· Cook and bake in your kitchen
· Enjoy the sun and the sea right from your private balcony, which will give you a splendid view of the Hervey Bay
· Invite in people for a pool or booze party
· Enjoy relaxing TV-watching session with family.
· May enjoy tourist friendly pick and drop services from other travel operators from the convenient location of your resort.
These and many more facilities make the vacation tailor made and highly comfortable one, and that is why, the stay in a villa or resort is always worth remembering. There are perhaps many more ways to make a vacation memorable, and you will find them as you start with this very first step of choosing the right accommodation in Hervey Bay. The best accommodation will undoubtedly make it the best vacation for you.
For more information on various types of accommodations available in Hervey Bay, you can log on to the Internet. Visit them online at http://santalina.com.au/.


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The Last Door Recovery Centre will be hosting "Art 4 Recovery" on Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Yaletown Roundhouse Centre. Partial proceeds from the auction will be donated to Last Door's Addiction Treatment Family Program.
Month: August 2015
FCA Art Workshops and Classes – Autumn 2015Classes & Workshops, FCA Head Office News
Back to school! As the poet Mark Strand already knew: "There is now end to what we can learn". With that in mind we created an engaging education program with workshops and classes for artists at every level.
There are workshops that will help you boost your creativity such as Barbara Cadario's class, "Art Journaling: An Adventure in Creativity", workshops that will encourage students to challenge boundaries and try new media such as Drew Young's class "Oil Painting in Abstraction" and workshops that to refine your skills in a certain medium such as Janice Robertson's class "Acrylic Techniques – A Study of Nature" or Gaye Adams' workshop "Alla Prima Oils – Fast and Fresh".
The popular Monday's at the Gallery series offers 1 to 2-day workshops, which are held at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island. Our Weekend Workshops are usually 2-day classed held at different locations in Metro Vancouver.
To find out more about our various workshops and to register online, visit our website here.
Arrowsmith FCA Chapter – Fall Juried Art ShowFCA Chapter News, FCA Exhibitions
The Arrowsmith Chapter is pleased to present its Fall Juried Art Show. This exhibition presents an excellent opportunity to enhance or begin a collection of original artwork and appreciate the skills of award winning, established, and emerging FCA artists from Victoria to Quadra Island and all points in between, with many residing in the Parksville/Qualicum area.
Meet the artists at the Opening Reception: Saturday, September 5th, 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Everyone welcome.
Nanaimo FCA – 3 Day Workshop Michael O'TooleClasses & Workshops, FCA Chapter News
Cost: FCA Members $300 Non-Members $350
Date: October 14th ,15th and 16th 2015, 9:30 – 4:30
Maximum: 14
Nanaimo Northtown Centre
(Former Nanaimo Arts Council location)
Eunmi Conacher
Make cheque payable to: FCA NANAIMO CHAPTER
Mail to:
Eunmi Conacher
876 Glengarry Crescent
Nanaimo, BC V9R 6P3
Nanaimo FCA – iPad for Artists – 3 Day Workshop with Lisa Danesin, AFCAClasses & Workshops, FCA Chapter News
DATE: October 20 – 22, 2015
TIME: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
LOCATION: Nanaimo North Town Centre, Nanaimo BC
COST: FCA Members: $275 / Non-Members: $300
LEVEL: beginner to intermediate iPad user
10 spaces only! Register now.
Immerse yourself in a three day workshop and discover what a powerful, creative, and FUN tool the iPad can be. Receive step by step instruction as you learn how to draw, paint and create using nothing but your iPad. We'll start by covering some iPad basics and work our way up to creating
digital paintings from scratch. Along the way we will cover photo editing; colour mixing; what pixel and resolution mean and why they are so important; how to get photos from your camera onto your iPad; how to set a custom canvas size in Procreate; digital collage (so cool!); working in layers… and SO MUCH MORE! Unleash the amazing potential that is hidden in your iPad. It's not just for checking e-mail and surfing the web!
AIRS 2015 – The Jury PanelFCA Exhibitions, FCA Head Office News, Special Announcement
Meet the Jurors of the 2015 Annual International Representational Show
Bobbie Burgers – Professional Artist
Bobbie Burgers was born in 1973 in Vancouver, B.C. She received a B.A. in Art History in 1996 from the University of Victoria. She has studied in Aix-en-Provence, France and returns often to recapture the life, light and spirit of Provence that she embrues into her painting.
As the art critic Michael Upchurch writes in his 2013 review of Bobbie's work, "Burgers' works are a tingling combination of visual delight and meditational memento mori. That tension between life-pulsing bloom and inevitable wilting and decay makes Burgers' paintings as appealing to the mind as they are pleasurable to the eye.
Burgers' discusses the element of time in her works stating, "Over the past couple of years, my florals have moved from being portraits of flowers, to being portraits of time. In them, past, present and future play out for me simultaneously. Painting flowers can't only be what meets the eye at one finite moment, I feel my works have to combine the light, the movement, the perfume, the emotions, the path this sends us on, the focus, lack of focus, the opening and closing in fresh cold air… the list can go on indefinitely. I love painting flowers for their ability to encapsulate life, death and renewal. These blossoms have a history, they are combining past, present, future, dreams and realities into one final vision, which I hope expresses my wonder of the natural world."
Linda Lando -Director of the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery at the Jewish Community Centre
Linda Lando has been part of the art world in Vancouver for over 30 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia as well as a diploma in Fine Arts from Sotheby's. She began her career in the auction business and then purchased Alex Fraser Galleries, which became Linda Lando Fine Art and finally Granville Fine Art. During that time period of almost thirty years, she curated many solo and group show, representing artists both local and from all across Canada. Over the years she also dealt in the Historical Canadian Art market and built many collections for her clients.
Recently she brought prints by Leonard Cohen to Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. She also took Granville Fine Art to the Toronto Art Fair.
Currently she is the Director of the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery at the Jewish Community Centre in Vancouver. There she is continues to curate shows with both local and international artists.
Renato Muccillo, SFCA – Professional Artist and Senior Signature Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists
Renato Muccillo's landscapes are often compared to those of Dutch masters and 19th century English artists. This traditional approach acts to highlight and compliment the artist's subject matter as Muccillo's subject matter reminds us how frequently today's landscape is affected and appropriated by man and industry. Mesmerized at first by the luxurious colours and near miraculous use of light, on closer inspection the viewer notices the culvert, the pilings, the log booms, or the distant plume of smoke stacks. Even the farms that serve as subject matter for his paintings leave the viewer wondering if they are viable or abandoned as there is no sign of human life—only the marks left behind by man and machine.
It is a curious relationship between the sheer beauty and effect of light as it hits, or emanates from, intrusive steam plumes. The radiance is gorgeous, the content disquieting. Yet we have grown so accustomed to these elements in our surroundings that we frequently overlook them, taking for granted what is actually there. Muccillo plays on that subtle distraction and steers our eye toward man's impact on nature by compelling us to recognize, if not falsely sense, nature's overwhelming beauty. To look upon one of his paintings is at times, akin to being lured by the siren song of modernity in the context of wished-for romanticism. In the end we are often inexplicably compelled to look upward to the sky and fix our eyes there, forgetting what we have left, or been left with below. Perhaps it is for that reason Muccillo's skies are what we remember most of his landscapes, long after we have walked away from them.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are Muccillo's expressionist florals and abstracts. They are a shout of release, a slap in the eye needed to wake us from our soporific diversions while celebrating colour for the sake of colour alone. Their joyousness offers a sense of relief and even rejoicing in the storm of his landscapes and incredible versatility.
POTE – Award Winners!FCA Exhibitions, Special Announcement
Congratulations to the award winning artists of Painting on the Edge 2015! The Opening Reception and Award Ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 20th, 2015 at the Federation Gallery (1241Cartwright Street, Vancouver). View the full exhibition here.
1st Place, $2,000 Grand Prize Winner: Kristen Brown, "Simultaneously Functioning II"
2nd Place Opus Award: Sandrine Pelissier, AFCA, "Slice of Life I – Louise"3rd Place Opus Award: Rosalie Matchett, "Written on the Body; The Golden Age of Whaling"
4th Place Opus Award: Barbara Cadario, "What if? Immortality"
Vancouver Art Gallery Honorable Mention: Kazimir Simpson, "Fantasy"

subset: commoncrawl


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Merritt Island High (MIHS) Class of 1968 Alumni List
Help us Update the Merritt Island High 1968 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
1968 Class List
- Sandra Bailey
- Lawrence Bigelow
- Deborah Blankfield
- Franses Book
- Judy Briel
- Bonnie Brunstad
- Brenda Burke
- David Carter Memorial
- Joe Chennault
- Joseph Chennault
- Adams Cheri
- Debra Cross
- Debbie Cross
- Blankfield Deborah
- David Detwiler
- Limoges Donald
- Pat Driver
- Frank Dupuy
- Bill Ellis
- Debbie Ford
- Shirley Foster
- Gail Fountain
- Isabel Freund
- Judith Hare
- Brian Hart
- John Hass
- Phillip Haulk
- Marilyn Hendon
- Sharon Hinman
- Clyde Hladky
- Bonnie Hohnstein
- Cynthia Irwin
- Paul Lambert
- Patricia Lee
- Deborah Lehtola
- Donald Limoges
- Kthleen Longazel
- Kathleen Longazel
- Mary Ellen Lovechuck
- Rudy Martin
- Penny Martin
- Arne Matson
- Frances Miller
- Robert Niblett
- Ruth Palmer
- Crystal Parsons
- Lewis Patterson
- Sherily Patton
- Sherilyn Patton
- Deirdre Pierson
- John Scott
- Charles Singleton
- Sandy Smith
- Elizabeth Stone
- Virginia Wages
- Sandra Waldinger
- Patricia Weaver
- Charles Webb
- Greg Wolowitz
- Angela Yount
Know Merritt Island High Class of 1968 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 1968 Class List by adding missing names.
Funny Girl was the top movie in theaters in 1968, with a lifetime gross of over $58,500,000. Among TV shows in 1968, The Andy Griffith Show was the most popular of the year.
Hit Songs From 1968
DelilahTom Jones
Jumpin' Jack FlashRolling Stones
Time Has Come TodayChambers Brothers
Goin' Out Of My Head / Can't Take My Eyes Off YouLettermen
(You Keep Me) Hangin' OnVanilla Fudge
(Theme From) Valley Of The DollsDionne Warwick
Nobody But MeHuman Beinz
Reach Out Of The DarknessFriend and Lover
Cab DriverMills Brothers
I've Gotta Get A Message To YouBee Gees
Hit Movies From 1968
Reunions and Merritt Island High School News
More 1968 alumni from Merritt Island HS have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 1968 alumni.
Missing some friends from Merritt Island High that graduated with you in 1968? Check the list below that shows the Merritt Island class of '68.
While you are reminiscing about the times you spent in high school at Merritt Island High School, you should also check out alumni photos, yearbook listings and share any reunion info if possible.


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Hi All
I drive past a possible specimen everyday to work.
I am now at the point where I would love to grab this if possible as it extremely close to a finished product.
It is a shoot from the bottom of a tree, so some digging would be needed and including roots (from what I can tell it would be possible and worth the try) + planting into a large pot/ground will be needed.
Has anyone done this? Have you contacted the council, or house occupier?
I would rather not just turn up and start digging...


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Mario Chain Chomp Lamp
Belongs in your own personal Museum of Modern Arf
- Task light looks just like a Chain Chomp from Super Mario Bros.
- Head swivels and pivots for directed angle of light
- A ThinkGeek creation! Woof!
Belongs in your own personal Museum of Modern ArfMario doesn't have an easy life. Despite his job description as a plumber (until very recently), somehow he's the member of the Mushroom Kingdom who's always chosen to rescue the princess (who is in another castle). He has to dodge man-eating plants, jump over lava, and avoid the lunging of Chain Chomps. It's a hard life. He should probably ask for a raise or at least some therapy.
Straight from Chompworks Galaxy comes the Super Mario Chain Chomp Lamp, perfect for lighting up your workspace so you can ask for that raise or just finish your homework. This task light has the Chain Chomp's head on a swivel so that you can direct the beam just where you need it. And it uses an LED bulb, so it doesn't get hot like the ones in Super Mario Sunshine. Still, you probably shouldn't put your hand too close.
Product Specifications
- Super Mario Chain Chomp Lamp
- Officially-licensed Super Mario Bros. merchandise
- A ThinkGeek creation
- Task light looks just like a Chain Chomp from Super Mario Bros.
- Head swivels and pivots for directed angle of light
- (Chain itself does not move - it's welded steel)
- Includes 60 Lumens LED bulb (non-replaceable)
- (Bulb is rated at a minimum of 30,000 hours)
- (Which means if you had it on for 6 hours every day, it'd last for over 13 years)
- Power cord has inline on/off switch
- Imported
- Dimensions: 10" deep x 18 3/4" tall x 6" wide with 5" cube base
- 6' long USB power cable with 100 - 240V 50/60Hz AC adapter with Type A electrical plug
- Weight: 6 1/2 lbs.
- Ages 14+


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You've landed your dream role. It's the school you wanted to teach in, you have the freedom you desire and the culture suits you – but how do you ensure you make the right impression? Starting a new job is a two way street and it is important to stand out from the offset (for all the right reasons.) The ability to be a great employee is not something everyone possesses but it is something you should strive to achieve. If you shine in your new role, you will not only feel more confident, you will also be more likely to grow within the school. A great teacher will find new opportunities chapping on the door and this is what you should strive to achieve. Stand out from the crowd and shine in your new role by adopting some of these soft skills.
If you are always rushing late through the school gate in the morning, while your students are eagerly anticipating your arrival, it is unlikely you will go far in your career. Reliability is a valuable skill which will help you achieve great results in your role and is important if you want to make a great impression. Reliability is not just about good attendance and time-keeping, it is also about keeping your word and doing as you say. For instance, if you promise to stay late or help out at a function, make sure you do it, as this will show your employer that you are trustworthy – a great quality to have in all walks of life!
Friendly, positive attitude
Have you ever had a colleague who just drained the life out of you with their negativity? Most people have and it's not particularly pleasant to be around. Don't be the person who brings everyone else down, have the opposite effect on your colleagues and managers! If you are friendly and positive, people will gravitate towards you and it will put you in a good position for better opportunities in the future.
Education is all about ideas and problem solving, so why not become an inspiration to your colleagues? Teachers generally love to learn as much as students so share all your experience and have the confidence to lead. Not only will you grow as an individual within your role, you will also stand out from the crowd.
Accept Feedback
No one particularly likes criticism, but it is really important to be able to take feedback, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. You will never learn if you are not able to accept feedback and it can come across as arrogant, if you're defensive any time someone offers feedback. Be open to ways you can improve and you will always enjoy growth – both professionally and personally.
Great Communicator
Of course this is a prerequisite for a teaching role, but it goes much further than just in the classroom. Listen to your colleagues and more senior staff, ask questions and take in any information you are given. A great communicator will talk and listen in equal measures.
If you want to shine in your new role, it just takes a bit of mindfulness and hard work, but it is achievable if you are determined to grow.
TeacherHQ is a brand new digital platform redefining education recruitment. We showcase high quality, pre-vetted permanent, supply and contract teachers to schools with teaching vacancies who can contact them directly, arrange interviews and make hires immediately. We operate on four key principles: Transparency, Cost Effectiveness, Efficiency and Quality. To know more, please visit https://teacherhq.co.uk, or contact us via email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 0203 865 4064.


text: Source: (2002) Ph.D. dissertation, Philosophy, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.I argue that morality requires us to implement a system of restorative justice as a response to the crimes of many offenders. This claim is not novel, but the path I take to show the necessity is. I argue that the justification of a state's response to a criminal's offending is based on an accounting of three generally accepted principles—proportionality, treating like cases alike, and accountability. These principles are based in a conception of human beings endowed with a high and equal moral worth. Most utilitarian and deontologists accept that human beings have a high moral worth. Moreover, the three principles are also generally accepted as integral components of a theory of punishment. I claim that if a theory of punishment fails to be consistent with these principles then that theory will fail as a justification of punishment. Next, I argue that an interpretation of the three principles is best understood from a broadly retributive perspective, to be seen as a test to determine whether or not we are giving people what they deserve. I will argue that our worth as human beings is best recognized when we give people what they deserve. Thus, the moral requirement to implement a system of restorative justice rests on a fundamental retributive requirement. It is here where my work departs from most work on retributivism or restorative justice. It is often argued that restorative justice and retributivism are mutually exclusive. Retributivism requires that people get the punishment they deserve regardless of the consequence while restorative justice requires that offenders be treated in a manner that restores the relationship between them, their victims and their communities regardless of what offenders deserve. These are erroneous assumptions as punishment is not always deserved as a response to criminal wrongdoing. Instead, to maintain a consistency with our principles, punishment is often precluded as a response to criminal wrongdoing. However, a response to offending is still required. In these instances I will argue that we ought to implement a system of restorative justice to give people what they deserve and remain consistent with our principles. Author's abstract.


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Dried beans are a great staple ingredient to make batches for the week of soup, green chile dishes and sides. Living in high altitude, we have challenges to cook beans in a regular pot as they do not reach a nice texture. I tried this several times when I first moved here and was not able to produce a tasty bean dish…even after two days of cooking! Dena provided some tips to cooking beans and she uses a pressure cooker to achieve a good texture. You could also use a slow cooker on low for five to seven hours.
From Dena
- Sort the beans throughly, 10 to 12 beans in your hand at a time
- Remove out any rocks
- Wash throughly in a strainer
- Soak the beans overnight in purified water
- Use the same water to cook the beans in a pressure cooker or slow cooker on low. (don't add salt to the beans as this will slow the process)
- Cook the beans until tender and check them to ensure they are tender
- After they are cooked, saute onion and garlic to add. Tamari and red chile powder add flavor.


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The American Hospital Association (AHA) has renewed its commitment to ending healthcare disparities with its #123forEquity Pledge to Act Campaign. More than 700 hospitals to date have signed on, pledging to increase cultural competency training and stratify at least one quality measure by race, ethnicity, income, or some other social determinant of health within 12 months of taking the pledge.
Health disparities are well documented. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), "a large body of published research reveals that racial and ethnic minorities experience a lower quality of health services, and are less likely to receive even routine medical procedures than are White Americans." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on Health Disparities and Inequalities found that mortality rates from various chronic illnesses were all higher for certain minority populations. For example, while African-American women develop breast cancer at lower rates than white women, they are more likely to die from their disease.
Disparities exist for ethnic populations due to factors that may include:
- Segregation and/or social isolation
- Language barriers or culturally ingrained health behaviors
- Direct and indirect discrimination by the healthcare system
- Environmental factors
- Socioeconomic status
- Access to care and health insurance
This last factor, socioeconomic status, is a particularly strong indicator of health status and outcomes: When people are ranked by income, education, or occupation, those at the top of the hierarchy fare better in terms of health. Even among smokers, those with higher incomes and/or education levels have better outcomes than those at the bottom of the social pyramid. This is why the AHA and other organizations are calling for renewed efforts to build health equity across all populations.
Demographics are shifting in the U.S. Statistical models project that, by 2043, over half of our population will consist of minorities. This means that eliminating health disparities and building health equity is no longer about social justice and medical ethics—it is quickly becoming essential to maintaining a high-quality healthcare system and improving community health.
So what can nurses do?
First of all, it's important to remember that nurses have a long history of caring for underserved and vulnerable populations, and this should continue—but with a focus on practices that may help to end disparities. Cultural competency can go a long way in helping minority patients overcome barriers that stand in their way of receiving excellent care, particularly for nurse case managers and oncological nurse navigators. An article in Minority Nurse also highlighted the role of nurse educators in engaging nursing students to recognize and work toward eliminating disparities. So if you're mentoring a younger nurse, don't hesitate to bring up the subjects of health equity and culturally competent care.
Increasing workforce diversity among nurses will also likely play a role in eliminating disparities. We all know that the majority of nurses have traditionally been white and female. This isn't changing very rapidly: In 2008, 83.2 percent of nurses still identified themselves as white and non-Hispanic. In its landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, the IOM called for a more diverse nursing workforce and for all providers to increase cultural competency. The idea is that a diverse nursing workforce will be better equipped to serve a diverse community.
No matter what race or ethnicity you identify with, you can support your employer's efforts to identify disparities through data and eliminate them through proactive quality initiatives. For more information, take a look at the AHA's Equity of Care Toolkit or the Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People web page on disparities.
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of your patients? Empower yourself with knowledge through an online RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree. American Sentinel University is an innovative, accredited provider of online nursing degrees, including programs that prepare nurses for a specialty in case management, infection control, and executive leadership.


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Fair, fragile skin and population exposed to the sun seem to be more prone to hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Skin complexion can be uneven.
The sun and ageing are the main causes of pigmentation marks such as "solar lentigo" and "senile lentigo".
Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives can also lead to hyperpigmentation (chloasma).
Phototoxic substances (exposure to the sun, certain plant species, fragrances and medicines) can cause brown spots to appear further to a photosensitisation reaction.
Furthermore, damaged or scarred skin (after-effects of burns, sunburns, healing of inflammatory lesions and particularly acne lesions) develops pigmentation marks more easily.
Pigmentation is the result of a complex 4-stage process:
1. Ultraviolet rays and "biological mediators" (substances found in the skin's cells) stimulate the pigmentation process and therefore the melanin-producing function of cells called "melanocytes".
2. Melanin is produced by melanocytes.
3. The melanin produced is distributed through the two layers of the epidermis.
4. It then migrates to the skin's surface through the ongoing renewal of the skin cells.
Tips and recommendations
- Protect your skin from the sun by limiting exposure and using sun protection at all time.
- Use adapted skincare products.
- Visit a dermatologist.


text: Ronald C. Lippincott Wed, 03/22/2017 - 6:56pm Ronald C. Lippincott, 73, of Palatka, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017, in Kindred Hospital North in Green Cove Springs. He ...PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today! Read more about Ronald C. Lippincott


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Happy New Year from all at Stif - Shop Closed New Years Day
Take a look at this range of Hoodies from Fox, Vans and Ibis. Take a good look through this lot as some of the Fox Hoodies are reduced, bargain. If you cant see the Fox Hoodie you are after please get in touch as we will be able to help.


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'Masking and Enmasking: Noh Theatre as a Strategy in Contemporary Art and Performance'
Sat 14 May 2016, 3.30-5.30
Kings Place, London, Hall Two
Part of two-day festival 'Noh Reimagined' curated by Akiko Yanagisawa from mu:arts (13-14 May 2016)
'Echoes' is a 20 minute performance piece with electro-acoustic sound, various flutes, de-collaged publication and live projection for 3 performers (David Toop, Emi Watanabe, Wiebke Leister).
The event consisted of 4 performances and a panel discussion: A screening of Simon Starling's film from 'Project for a Masquerade (Hiroshima)', which connects the making of contemporary Noh masks with Cold War politics, nuclear development and art. Ignacio Jarquin presented the beginning of his 'Madam Butterfly Returns' with music by Michael Finnissy and a libretto by Andrew G Marshall. Ami Skånberg Dahlstedt and Palle Dahlstedt's piece looked at the role of hero and victim in Noh through movement and sound fragments. David Toop, Emi Watanabe and Wiebke Leister explored the psychological and aesthetic significance of voice and face masking. Followed by the launch of the artist publication 'Echoes and Afterlives' by Wiebke Leister.
link: http://noh.muarts.org.uk/noh-theatre-as-a-strategy-in-contemporary-art-and-performance/


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Saturday Mornings - Donut Derelicts
Every Saturday morning the parking lot outside an unassuming donut shop floods with some of the most beautiful vintage and new rides you can imagine. From the early morning until about 10am cars come and go and it's a true feast for the eyes. There are also donuts and coffee for sale at the donut shop. There is no registration, there are no categories, just show-up and look at some beautiful vehicles.


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Change can be difficult for anyone, especially for seniors who are going through many other changes in their lives. It isn't uncommon for these individuals to have some fears about making the move to assisted living communities after living independently for so many years. One of the best things you can do for your parents is to sit down with them and talk about these fears, just like they did for you when you were young. Alleviating some of their fears about assisted living care in OKC can help make the transition easier.
Many seniors fear they will lose their independence and become bored living in assisted living communities. They envision sitting in a sterilized room with nothing more to do than watch TV, read or listen to the radio. Fortunately, assisted living services have largely changed over nursing homes in the past. Show your parents brochures and websites of assisted living facilities and point out all the activities and amenities available. In many cases, seniors will have more to do than they could living on their own and will be able to make new friends with like-minded seniors.
After paying off their home, seniors often fear moving into assisted living will quickly drain their financial resources. There are programs designed to help seniors afford this type of living arrangement. For the amounts not covered by these programs, assisted living may require some careful budgeting, but for most people, it can be an affordable option without using up a senior's financial resources too quickly, especially when you consider the cost of in-home care.
One of the biggest fears seniors have is being forgotten by their family and friends. When they age in place, they feel people are more likely to stop by for a visit or to help them out. However, assisted living facilities encourage family and friends to come for a visit, making it convenient to join in on activities and really get involved. When you talk to your parents, assure them you will drop by for visits, just like you would in their home. Point out how they will be able to show you around their new surroundings and introduce you to their new friends.
There are many stories of nursing home abuse that can cause fear in your loved one. Assisted living is not only different in structure, but it also makes it easier for your loved one to get the quality care they may require. Most facilities have on-site medical staff on call at all times and offer assisted living services like medication management to help.
It's normal to have some fears about moving into assisted living. The important thing is you don't allow your parents to deal with it on their own. Talking to them about their concerns and showing them hard evidence to dispute those fears can go a long way toward making this decision easier and ensuring a smoother transition.
If your parents are facing the decision to move to assisted living, contact us. We can provide you with valuable information that can help alleviate some of their fears and concerns.


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Confronting a Powerful Bully Using the Battlestar Galactic Playbook
I love watching TV or Hulu or Netflix or HBONow because it allows me to see sometimes outrageous negotiation situations play out, all from the comforts of my couch.
I began to watch TV shows with a deeper appreciation for this after a conversation with Julie and Casey of Vital Voice Training. (Go check them out!)
They told me how, in every scene, characters with opposing viewpoints engage in dialogue, each vying to achieve their own goals. Often that dialogue is a negotiation (and you know how I love a good negotiation).
Recently, my partner Charlie has been re-watching cult-favorite science fiction show Battlestar Galactica on Hulu. Last week I joined him on the couch for episode 7, titled "You Can't Go Home Again."
Near the end of this episode, there is a pivotal scene in which one of the heroes, President Roslin, speaks truth to power and negotiates with difficult people to affect positive change. I really enjoyed this and wanted to share the nugget of negotiation wisdom in this scene with you.
First, let me set the scene.
As in every episode of BSG, there is a post-apocalyptic crisis. Starbuck, audacious space pilot, has been stranded on a barren moon with no oxygen reserve.
Back on the mothership, Commander Adama and his son, Captain Adama, plan a do-or-die mission to rescue Starbuck, risking the entire fleet and lives of 45,000 humans.
As soon as President Roslin gets wind of this, she confronts the two men and rebukes them, in an attempt to get them to change course. She makes a rational argument backed with facts. The mission has already expended nearly half of fuel reserves -- "unacceptable," she says. But Commander Adama won't budge. He persists, saying that "the recovery of one pilot is military matter."
Read: Step off. This is my turf.
Or in a word: No.
I've never been in outer space or on a battleship, and I hope to never experience a post-apocalyptic world. Yet the conflict between President Roslin and Commander Adama is a familiar one.
That's because Commander Adama is an archetype. The domineering leader who, blinded by power and emotion, uses his position to force his will on his subordinates. In other words, a powerful bully.
This exchange between President Roslin -- the unproven leader of a makeshift government, or the underdog in this scene -- and Commander Adama reminded me of the few times in my career when I confronted a powerful bully and was shot down.
There was that time when, as a junior analyst, I confronted the dictatorial founder of a financial company on failing to follow through on a promise to provide training. There was the other time when, as an operations manager, I confronted the head sales manager of a tech company on his misuse of funds.
- Both times, I was not afraid to speak truth to power. I was right; they were wrong.
- Both times, I was sassy, like my mother taught me. Proud to be right.
- Both times, I was immediately shot down.
I didn't win the argument. I didn't save the relationship either. I didn't negotiate effectively.
For us mortals living IRL, the stakes in negotiating with difficult people in positions of power are extremely high. While the fate of the entire human civilization may not depend on the outcome, but it can certainly feel like the fate of our careers does.
So how does President Roslin, who in an earlier episode was running government meetings and issuing orders alone, who has limited power, negotiate with Commander Adama?
Let's take a look.
Commander Adama: "Crap" "Unacceptable" Whatever it is you feel about this, the recovery of one pilot is military matter.
President Roslin: All right. It's military. Fine. And you're both officers. And you're both honorable men. And you're both perfectly aware that you are putting the lives of over 45,000 people and the future of this civilization at risk for your personal feelings.
Now if two of you, of all people, can live with that then the human race doesn't stand a chance. Clear your heads.[President exits the room. Commander and Captain exchange a meaningful look.]
Captain Adama: [Picks up the phone] Combat. Standby. [Hands the phone over to Commander Adama]
Commander Adama: This is the commander. Terminate search operations. Bring everyone home.
President Roslin shows respect and trust for the two military leaders. She concedes on the point that the decision is military. And with this strategic concession, she enables the two men to see her point of view. This way she allows them to do the right thing in a way that allows them to save face, or retain respect without humiliation.
In the book "Getting Past No" by William Ury, this negotiation strategy is described as building a golden bridge for the opponent to retreat across without losing face. This works for President Roslin because she trusts the honorable men to do the honorable thing, which is protecting the lives of 45,000 people.
Early in my career, I didn't know anything about building bridges. At a deeper level, I didn't trust the men in power. This showed in the way I confronted them without considering how they may be humiliated by an underling calling them out. Humiliation is a powerfully negative emotion.
Don't get me wrong. You're not responsible for anyone's feelings except your own.
In a negotiation with a person of higher power position than you, however, you would be best served by helping the other side feel respected and comfortable with making their own decisions. If you trust them to make the right decision, that is. If you don't, you would be best served by extricating yourself from a potentially toxic power dynamic.
- Negotiation is not a confrontation. Lose the need to be right.
- If it helps to achieve your long term goal, make a strategic concession that helps the other side save face or avoid humiliation.
- Show trust and respect to the other side. If you trust them to do the right thing, give them space to do it on their own terms.
- If you don't trust or respect them, give yourself space. Walk away.


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25 yards 1.5" Coral Orange Satin Center Ribbon
Item Number: RIB_CEN15_ORNG
- Qty: 1 Spool
- Material: Organza Ribbon with Satin Center Stripe
- Color: Coral Orange
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These wider satin center sheer organza Ribbons are perfect to wrap the big favors up, tie the balloons with or adorn pretty attire. Satin-center gives the ribbon a unique glistening look when used in bows and provides more body and stiffness than the mono-edge, it's great to use for bows, veils, etc. The impeccable sheen of the organza ribbon will surely accentuate the elegance of any dull favor or decoration. You can choose the hue that corresponds with your wedding theme shade. This mesmeric organza trim is in-expensive and looks spell bindingly fascinating.
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By Tom Haydon and Sue Epstein/The Star-Ledger
HIGHLAND PARK — A body recovered from the Raritan River has been confirmed as that of a missing 10-year-old boy from New Brunswick, police said this evening.
2 missing New Brunswick boys found dead in Raritan River
Meanwhile, a second body, believed to be the boy's 11-year-old friend, also has been removed from the water about a half mile downriver.
Francisco Perera and Devine Nicholas were last seen Sunday by their mothers and had been the subject of a search by police.
This afternoon, Francisco's body was discovered on the Highland Park side of the river beneath the Route 27 bridge. The second body was discovered shortly after 6 p.m. by a State Police helicopter. The New Brunswick police and fire departments also had been taking part in the search.
Devine's mother, Carol Leonard, spoke to The Star-Ledger about her son before learning from police that a second body had been found. In an earlier visit to the home, police had told her they found Devine's sneakers along the river's shoreline.
Her son, she said, did not know how to swim. To her knowledge, the mother added, Devine and Francisco did not regularly go to the Raritan's banks.
"They had no business at that river," she said.
Rocking back and forth, her face filled with worry, Leonard called her son a fun and outgoing child who brought home all As and Bs in school.
"He is a good kid," she said.
Star-Ledger staff writer Mark Mueller contributed to this report.
• Police find body washed up on banks of Raritan River in Highland Park


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Shakira's Miami mansion for $11million
1 of 9
Shakira's Miami mansion is on sale for $11million, the home is 8,708 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. The Miami beach property features a large pool, outdoor lounge area and views of the Miami skyline. The singer has incorporated her Lebanese heritage into the design of the home with a hookah lounge fitted with exotic furnishings similar to designs you find in the Middle East. The property even has a trophy room where the singer displays her Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards and Video Music Awards amongst others. Here is a look inside the stunning property.


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Welcome to Sylvie Jondet
" A perfect balance: preserved nature with the atmosphere of a club "
Located between Cannes and St. Tropez, set in a magnificent, natural wooded parkland of 150 acres, only 10 minutes from the sea...Cork oaks, umbrella pines and mimosas... you will find at the Domaine de la Bergerie all the charm and pleasures of life of the Var!
Over 400 pitches for rentals on plots of approximately 200m², on terraces(hilly site) and 200 traditional camping sites.
> See all the photos (20)
> See reviews (136) 8,2/10
- You might like...
- Kid's Clubs
- 1400-m² water park
- Wellness and fitness area
Summary... Campsite opening dates : from 20/04/2019 to 04/11/2019 Rentals opening dates : from 30/03/2019 to 04/11/2019 700 pitches including 500 mobile homes, cottages, glamping lodge tents> Campsite map > Accommodation and Prices Region Riviera - Provence - Heading for South to discover the Provence: Gorges du VErdon, the wine-circuit, nature-discovering, typical Provencal larkets, Cannes, St. Tropez... the beauty of the interior region of the Var and dynamism of the French Riviera just a stone's throw away!
> Address and Directions
> Address and Directions
> campsite video tour


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Coverage for Your Business
Protect your Investment
Hometown Insurance Services provides insurance to businesses in Buellton, Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Los Olivos, Solvang, Los Alamos, and surrounding areas.
No matter what business you're in, each workday is dedicated to doing your job well and providing your customers with the best service possible. Hometown Insurance Services would like to return the favor by giving you the coverage you need to ensure the security of your business.
At Hometown Insurance Services, we're committed to keeping your business protected – so you can focus on your day-to-day operations. And with the right insurance plan, your business will be covered from top to bottom.
We offer the following options for your business assets:
- Commercial property insurance
- Commercial general liability
- Business owners policy (BOP)
- Inland marine insurance
- Commercial auto insurance
- Commercial umbrella insurance
- Professional liability
- Workers compensation
- Crime insurance
- And much more …
Related Products:
Our Locations
Buellton/Santa Ynez Valley Office186 West Highway 246
Buellton, CA 93427
Fax: 805-688-2248
Santa Maria Office2255 S Broadway, Suite 10
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Fax: 805-922-3352
Ventura Office2419 East Main St, Suite 100
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Fax: 805-850-0383
Atascadero Office (Affiliate Office)7600 El Camino Real, Suite 10
Atascadero, CA 93422
Fax: 805-466-3883


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The Bridgeway Group began in 1974. Through a concerted effort of investing in people and practices, the Group has grown to a transnational conglomerate with strategic interests in Shipping & Logistics, Engineering & Technology, Real Estate, Trading & Marketing and Education.
In the pursuit of consistent innovation and growth, the group has evolved to becoming a key player in the categories that it currently operates.
Copyright @ 2015. Bridgeway Shipping all rights reserved.


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June 16, 2008 - To help ensure that more healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. have access to the positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) technology that helps clinicians diagnose and treat disease earlier and more effectively, Siemens has opened two new radiopharmacies in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh.
These two new facilities will produce imaging biomarkers that are a crucial component of PET-CT tests used to diagnose cancer and cardiac and neurological ailments.
PETNET Solutions, a fully owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., operates the largest PET radiopharmacy network with 50 radiopharmacies and distribution centers in the U.S., Korea and the United Kingdom that produce and distribute PET radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals, clinics and research facilities for PET imaging. The new facilities produce and supply the required radiopharmaceuticals to area hospitals that have PET-CT, which will help ease the burden of healthcare providers to produce their own radiopharmaceuticals.
The Las Vegas facility, which opened in April 2008, will manufacture fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), the imaging biomarker used to assist with diagnosis and staging of disease processes and to monitor cellular response to treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The new Pittsburgh facility uses a Siemens Eclipse HP Cyclotron to produce FDG.
For more information: www.usa.siemens.com/medical


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Introducing the newest member of the Orca family - the Openwater Wetsuit - offering the highest level of visibility and security available. With ultra high-vis neon orange arms the Openwater wetsuit offers swimmers a sense of security not previously available. Adding ladies Openwater and junior Openwater sizes to the range makes openwater swimming available to all the family at a very reasonable price.
Neon orange jersey smoothskin arms allow you to be extremely visible in the open water - greatly increasing your feeling of security.
With a thickness of 2 -2.5mm Yamamoto neoprene all over, this suit is super flexible, giving you great freedom of movement in open water.
At such an affordable pricepoint, and with kids sizes available, this suit is one that really fit out the whole family.
- A - HydroLite linin 39 cell 2mm
- B - Polyester jersey and water repellant, 38 cell, 2mm white neoprene
- C - Smoothskin 2.5mm 38 cell multistretch.


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Nailing the Goal
One of the toughest challenges that I have faced in Coaching is to help coachees select appropriate goals for themselves.
Faced with a bewildering amount of data and feedback, coachees often wonder what they need to work on and how to choose appropriate goals to work on. Many sensitive coachees tend to take every sentence and word very seriously and feel that they are no good and will need to immediately improve in 100 areas of their work and personality. This somehow seems to paralyse them into inaction. As Coaches it is part of our role to help them sift through the data, find patterns, prioritize in relation to challenges in current role or in preparation for a future role and clearly articulate goals that will provide impact and help move their agenda forward. Helping coachees move from insights to action is one critical step in the coaching engagement.
So how do we help the coachee choose those goals that, when acted upon will provide the right leverage to the coachee in becoming more effective. Some of the things that I have found helpful in doing this are:
Revisiting the Sponsor brief: What was the expectation from the sponsor?
Reflecting on the purpose of the engagement: Going back to the initial meeting, what did the coachee expect to achieve out of this engagement?
Stepping back to look at the big picture: Is the purpose of the engagement to improve effectiveness in the current role or to prepare the coachee for effectiveness in a future role?
Look at data holistically: What are the emerging patterns as opposed to stray individual comments?
What is the consistency of the feedback? Is the data pointing to a particular constituency that needs to be aligned or engaged with immediately or to a greater extent?
Examine the REAL challenges that the coachee is facing at work: What are the day to day challenges
that the coachee in facing in the current role and how urgent is it to fix that? Will addressing those issues have significant positive impact on the coachees current work?
Coachees intuition: Intuitively what does the coachee feel he needs to work on? I find that more often than not, they know what will create impact.
Short term vs long term: In many cases the feedback and data is not only relevant for the current role but also points to some long term issues that the coachee needs to work on so that the same is of help as the coachee progresses in his or her career.
Visualizing what success would look like: getting the coachee to visualize what success would look like helps in clarifying what to pursue and also prioritize.
I have found that discussing all of these and going back every time to check the possible impact on current role challenges helps the coachee narrow down and finally choose those goals that will help bring leverage.
Once that is done, the coachee can use any of the several techniques for articulating SMART goals.
This would have your writeup


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Swamp Nasty Outfitters is located in Bonham, Texas just an hour North of Dallas, Texas. We offer guided Duck, Dove, Whitetail Deer, and Hog hunts.
We are now offering guided Waterfowl hunts in Saskatchewan, Canada!
Come hunt ducks with Swamp Nasty Outfitters on the best Waterfowl habitat North Texas has to offer.
From the commercial sunflowers to the cut wheat fields we chase dove all over North Texas. Come be a part of a Texas tradition!
Come help us take control of Texas' wild hog problems with our new thermal hog hunting rigs.


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Gary Danielson Ed.,S ATC/R LAT: Coordinator
Gary has been in health care for 35 years as an Athletic Trainer (AT). He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Master's degree from Northwest Missouri State University and Specialist degree from Southwest Baptist University. Gary has worked in numerous clinical settings, including an internship for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He has been an assistant AT at Boston University, head AT at Drury University, head football AT at West Virginia University and head AT at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He also served as the coordinator of Sports Medicine for Cox Health Systems in Springfield, Missouri.
Gary is a retired Missouri School Administrator and father of two boys. He comes to Prime with a focus of improving the life expectancy of OTR Drivers.
Contact Gary
Office: 417-521-3473
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Josh : Trainer
Josh received his Bachelor's in P.E. Health and Wellness from College of the Ozarks in May 2014. The following summer, Josh joined Prime as one of our trainers at the Springfield terminal. This position helped him decide to peruse his Master's Degree in Health Education. Josh is an upbeat, encouraging guy who will help anyone achieve success. His passion for training shows through his vast knowledge of fitness.
Johanna : Trainer
Johanna started her career in fitness 23 years ago beginning as a group exercise instructor at a local club. A few years later, Johanna became a Certified Personal Trainer and a year after that, she came to Prime. Initially, Johanna taught kickboxing and step aerobics along with individual training sessions but soon realized we needed more exercise opportunities. With a few years under her belt, Johanna was able to add yoga, boot camp, ab blast, and turbo sculpt to the list. In 2017, Johanna will fulfill her 200-hour Yoga Instructor Certification.
This mother of four and grandmother of three lives to help people reach their fitness goals! Through her positive vibes and years of experience, Johanna can show anyone that a healthy lifestyle can be fun and VERY rewarding!
Anita started her fitness career over 25 years ago teaching a variety of classes at a local YMCA. She is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer. Her dream was to have her very own gym. In 2007 that dream came true when she opened a fitness in the Pittston area. Anita came to Prime after the closing the gym in 2012.
Anita is committed to helping people reach their health and fitness goals. Her mantra, "Make fitness part of your daily routine like brushing your teeth."


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Ice Cream Bar set up in little plastic dishes:
Ice cream balloon décor (the pin didn't lead to the post so I'm not linking it back)
How fun are all of these ideas!
If you decide to put together your own summer ice cream party- let me know! I'd love to see your ideas.
- Traci


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Backup NOW! 4 Deluxe Suite
- VirtualDrive Network 2005
- Casper XP 3.0
- MirriM 1.0
- Backup NOW! 4 Deluxe Suite
- AJC Active Backup 1.1
- EzOpenBackup Plus! 1.3
NTI's Backup NOW! 4 Deluxe Suite backs up your data two ways. You can choose a full drive image backup or back up selected files and folders on local and remote drives. New in this version is the option to backup directly to FTP and to use 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. New email and file profiles identify especially important data, so you can back up essentials more often than you backup an entire drive image. Among the product's other features are spanning of CD/DVD or hard drives, recovery of individual files from backup, a bootable emergency recovery disk, and support for DVD+R 16x and DL.


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Facts about DepressionPosted by in Blog
This Psyblog outlines the key elements of depression and gives some insight how to work effectively with depression on a physical, mental and emotional level. We all experience low moods from time to time but when this becomes a learnt pattern this moods can get deeper and last for longer. Simply being told to pull yourself together isn't very helpful and prescribed drugs can be helpful but don't get to the root cause.
Hypnotherapy can be very effective in helping you get back in control of the way you think and feel and building your sense of self again. Most of the clients I see experience anxiety and depression but none of us were born with these habits and whatever we can learn, we can unlearn. That doesn't mean that change is always easy, but it's always possible.
If you'd like to free yourself from the prison cell of anxiety or depression, give me a call, it could be the best decision you ever make…
Change can be easier than you think.
Contact me today to find out how I can help.
Jill Tonks, MNCH(Reg) DIP CHyp, HPD, NLP Master Prac.
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Project description
The Coq Contribs project aims at gathering the users' contributions (specifications, development, libraries, ...) written in the Coq proof assistant.
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Rugby Lions have strengthened their connection with Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers as they look for a strong finish to their National Division One campaign.
Jim Naylor and Perry Freshwater have both moved across from Welford Road on an initial two-week loan deal - taking them up to the March 1 transfer deadline - which Lions hope can be extended to the end of the season.
England A cap Naylor starts at centre in tonight's game at Webb Ellis Road (7.30pm) against table-toppers Rotherham, while front row forward Freshwater - who played one game for Coventry last season before recalled by Tigers - is on the bench.
"We want to make sure that we finish the season well and we have a good rapport with Leicester," said Rugby's chief executive Mal Malik, who hopes to include another loan player for next week's home game against Henley when second row Tim Collier will be suspended after reaching three yellow cards for the second time this season.
Malik is optimistic that Lions can surprise Rotherham despite last week's 13-11 defeat at Birmingham & Solihull last week.
"We had 70 per cent of the possession but just couldn't score," he said.
"We certainly don't intend to lie back and die tonight, which is why we have brought people in, and there is no reason why we can't beat Rotherham on our own patch.
"They are probably the best team in the division by some way, but the side we have can give them a good game."
Jacques Steyn and Mark Edwards link up at half-back for the first time with fly-half Richard Davies reverting to full-back.
Rugby Lions: Davies; Roberts, Naylor, Potter, Reed; Steyn, Edwards; Greenbury, Gladstone, Smith, Collier, Jones, Prosser-Shaw, Stannard, Tovo. Reps: Newmarch, Walsh, Freshwater, Carson, Brittin, Field, Pilkington.


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A secret report warned the Scottish authorities five years ago that a number of regulations were broken in the procurement of Enric Miralles' Holyrood parliament building, a controversial MSP has revealed.
Rebel MSP Margo MacDonald has used the Freedom of Information Act to force parliamentary authorities to publish the report by quantity surveyor Gardiner & Theobald.
The Scottish Executive has come under fire for refusing to act on the report's conclusions and take control of the cost escalations, which rose from an original estimate of £40 million to a staggering £430 million.
The report - written in 2000 - warned that there were problems with fee calculations, the wider procurement of the construction programme and the project's value engineering.
It also predicted that the construction and design teams would find it hard to achieve the extremely difficult cost targets.
The report says: 'It is a disappointment that so many guidelines, rules and procedures set by the Scottish Executive, the treasury and the EC have been so blatantly ignored/broken. This project ought to have been a model of good practice - it clearly is not.
'We have identified inconsistencies and irregularities in the procurement process for the construction manager and quantity surveyor, incorrect fee calculations and unfulfilled obligations in the service of the quantity surveyor.
'It is our belief that all of these items have had an adverse impact on the cost of the project. In conclusion, the budget and programme are tight and the teams will not find it easy to achieve the targets, ' it adds.
MacDonald told the AJ that the report proves that, if the action had been taken, the parliament fiasco could have been eased.
'This report shows that the experts were very worried indeed about what was happening, as far back as five years ago, ' she said. 'I asked for this report to be made public in 2003 and it was not, and there was no good reason given.
'With the report remaining secret it meant that nobody could question the procurement methods and the length of the project.
'This is still a very relevant issue because it is about governance, about taxpayers' money and the behaviour of some very senior civil servants, ' she added.
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So this is the new year
And i don't feel any different
The clanking of crystal
Explosions off in the distance (in the distance)
So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For selfl assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions
So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogues bleed into one
I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then i could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speedtrains, or freeways
There'd be no distance that can hold us back
There'd be no distance that could hold us back
So this is the new year
Die Studio-Version ist einen Halbton höher, wobei wahrscheinlich der Bass umgestimmt wurde.
Ich wünsche Euch ein tolles neues Jahr!
Related Post:
U2 - New Year's Day
U2 - New Year's Day


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Firefighters were alerted when a train was halted near Melton after striking and killing four cows which had wandered on to the track.
The incident, which happened at Lag Lane in Thorpe Arnold, prevented the train from continuing on its journey.
Inspectors from Network Rail attened the scene to check the condition of the vehicle.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, which sent a heavy rescue crew and a Ford Range with technical rescue crew from the Southern Fire Station. said: "We found one cow impaled on the train and it was removed by the fire service.
"The carcass was removed from the line to enable the train to proceed. Three further cows were also deceased due to the impact from the incident."
The call-out was at 9.41am on Saturday morning and firefighters left the scene at 2.58pm.
A Network Rail spokesperson said:" On Saturday, at around 8.30am, we received reports that a train had struck three cows.
"There was damage to the front of the train. Passengers who were on-board left the train at Melton station and normal service was resumed just after 11am."
The organsation said it was difficult to prevent incidents like this because it was not practical or desirable to fence the network's 20,000 miles of track.
The spokesperson said: "When animals get on to the railway it can lead to delays as it is not safe to run trains where there is a risk of collision with a large animal."
The organisation did not want to comment on individual incidents such as the one at Thorpe Arnold.
But the spokesperson added: "We educate land owners about the dangers and disruption caused by animal incursions, emphasising the need to keep gates securely closed and encouraging them to use additional measures such as electric fencing.
"If the line is fenced, we may change the type of fencing depending on the animals on the adjacent land."


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This has been such a busy week! I opened my new Etsy Shop! YAY! I am hoping to sell some of my Pixie Creations to help make it possible for every new Pixie I hear about get a Pixie Creation of their own.
I think I will make a couple more for the shop. What are you creating today?


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- Research article
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Systematic review of effect of community-level interventions to reduce maternal mortality
- Elaine Kidney1,
- Heather R Winter^1,
- Khalid S Khan2,
- A Metin Gülmezoglu3,
- Catherine A Meads1,
- Jonathan J Deeks1 and
- Christine MacArthur1Email author
© Kidney et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009
- Received: 18 July 2008
- Accepted: 20 January 2009
- Published: 20 January 2009
The objective was to provide a systematic review of the effectiveness of community-level interventions to reduce maternal mortality.
We searched published papers using Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, CINAHL, BNI, CAB ABSTRACTS, IBSS, Web of Science, LILACS and African Index Medicus from inception or at least 1982 to June 2006; searched unpublished works using National Research Register website, metaRegister and the WHO International Trial Registry portal. We hand searched major references.
Selection criteria were maternity or childbearing age women, comparative study designs with concurrent controls, community-level interventions and maternal death as an outcome. We carried out study selection, data abstraction and quality assessment independently in duplicate.
We found five cluster randomised controlled trials (RCT) and eight cohort studies of community-level interventions. We summarised results as odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI), combined using the Peto method for meta-analysis. Two high quality cluster RCTs, aimed at improving perinatal care practices, showed a reduction in maternal mortality reaching statistical significance (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.98). Three equivalence RCTs of minimal goal-oriented versus usual antenatal care showed no difference in maternal mortality (1.09, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.25). The cohort studies were of low quality and did not contribute further evidence.
Community-level interventions of improved perinatal care practices can bring about a reduction in maternal mortality. This challenges the view that investment in such interventions is not worthwhile. Programmes to improve maternal mortality should be evaluated using randomised controlled techniques to generate further evidence.
- Antenatal Care
- Maternal Mortality
- Maternal Death
- Traditional Birth Attendant
- Maternity Service
There are 529,000 maternal deaths each year, 99.6% of these in developing countries [1] where health care provision is rudimentary. The lifetime risk of maternal death was estimated in 2000 as 1 woman in 16 in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 46 in south-central Asia, compared to 1 in 2800 in developed regions [1]. Most maternal deaths are preventable. Despite numerous initiatives by governments, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank and others, and a Millennium Development Goal (MDG 5) to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015, there has been little improvement [2]. In some areas mortality has worsened [3]. Whether intervention programmes have been simple or complex, few have robustly assessed their effect on maternal deaths. Indeed, some authors have advocated that due to the large population sizes needed and the difficulty in obtaining reliable data, maternal mortality is an unsuitable indicator for assessing safe motherhood initiatives [4].
Meeting MDG 5 is likely to need a combination of strategies, including those at community-level, utilizing best evidence on antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. Complete access to facility based obstetric care may be best practice [5] but is likely to be many years away and even then will not be acceptable or accessible to all [6, 7]. It is plausible that community-level interventions could improve outcomes by increasing the standard of out-of-facility care through training or education, or by improving care-seeking behaviour and access to facility level care. However, opinions diverge as to whether investment in community-level interventions is worthwhile [5, 8]. We undertook a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of community-level interventions to reduce maternal mortality.
We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, BNI, CAB ABSTRACTS, IBSS, Cochrane (Central, DARE and NHS EED and Systematic Reviews), Web of Science (SCI-expanded and SSCI), LILACS and African Index Medicus from database inception or at least from 1982 to June 2006 for terms including maternal mortalit*, communi* intervention*, participat*intervention*, midwi* and birth* attend* (see Additional file 1), and used Reference Manager 11 software http://www.refman.com to keep track of citations identified. We followed up references in published papers, contacted leading authors, and hand searched major relevant journals up to July 2007. We searched for unpublished work using the National Research Register website http://www.nrr.nhs.uk, 2006 issue 2, searched 30 June 2006), metaRegister http://www.controlled-trials.com/mrct/, searched 30 June 2006) and the WHO International Trial Registry portal http://www.who.int/trialsearch, searched 24 May 2007). No language restrictions were applied.
Study selection
We developed a protocol using recommended methods for collating data from randomised controlled trials and cohort studies with concurrent controls following QUOROM and MOOSE checklists [9–12]. Selection criteria were general maternity populations or women of childbearing age (15 to 49 years) taking part in a community-level intervention. We defined a "community-level" intervention as one which is either accessed locally at the woman's home, village, school or local clinic, or delivered by any person within the community, including health personnel or lay individual. Studies conducted in primary care settings designed to provide normal pregnancy and childbirth services and refer women with complications to higher levels of care were eligible for inclusion. All eligible studies had to report on maternal deaths and have controls of concurrent comparable populations experiencing either "usual care", including hospital based care, or other community interventions. We used the ICD10 definition of maternal mortality (death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes). We excluded studies of pharmacological and nutritional interventions since these have already been the subject of other systematic reviews. We also excluded studies on non-general maternity or childbearing age populations, such as women with a particular disease. No language restrictions were applied.
Two authors (EK and CMacA) independently assessed titles and abstracts of all potential references for eligibility and retrieval of full papers. In cases of uncertainty the original papers or raw data were obtained or authors contacted to reach a decision about eligibility after consideration of the published information. All retrieved papers were assessed in duplicate (by EK and HW), using checklists of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Quality assessment criteria
High quality
Medium quality
Low quality
1. Selection bias:
Studies with randomisation, allocation concealment, similarity of groups at baseline
RCTs with some deficiencies in randomisation e.g. lack of allocation concealment, or non-randomised studies with either similarities at baseline or use of statistical methods to adjust for any baseline differences
Non randomised,
with obvious differences at baseline, and without analytical adjustment for these differences.
2. Performance bias:*
Differed only in intervention, which was adhered to without contamination,
groups were similar for co-interventions or statistical adjustment was made for any differences
Confounding was possible but some adjustment was made in the analysis
Intervention was not easily ascertained or groups were treated unequally other than for intervention or there was non-adherence, contamination or dissimilarities in groups and no adjustments made.
3. Measurement bias:
Outcome measured equally in both groups, with adequate length of follow-up (i.e. at least 6 weeks postpartum), direct verification of outcome, with data to allow calculation of precision estimates.
Inadequate length of follow up or length not given
Inadequate reporting or verification of maternal mortality or differences in measurement in both groups
4. Attrition bias:
No systematic differences in withdrawals between groups and with appropriate imputation for missing values
Incomplete follow-up data,
not intention-to-treat analysis or lacking reporting on attrition
We extracted data to generate maternal mortality rates for the intervention and comparator arms of the included studies. For cluster randomised trials we computed the design effect from data presented in the study reports (intra-class correlation coefficients, cluster adjusted estimates and confidence intervals) using STATA 9.2 http://www.stata.com and adapted sample sizes and numbers of events to make appropriate allowance for clustering [13]. Where such data could not be found, we computed a design effect using the mean intra-class correlation coefficient from the trials in which they were computable. We summarised results of individual studies as odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals adjusted for clustering, which we pooled using the Peto method validated for meta-analysis of rare events [14]. We considered results of randomised trials and cohort studies separately. Meta-analysis were only considered for studies without a high risk of bias, which were then stratified according to the purpose of the intervention.
Characteristics and maternal mortality outcomes of included studies
Quality assessment
MMR Intervention
MMR Control
Manandhar 2004[17]
rural Nepal
Cluster RCT
24 clusters
Facilitator-led women's groups to improve perinatal care practices plus health-service strengthening vs. usual care plus health-service strengthening
28,931 women of childbearing age
6,714 pregnancies
6,165 live births
2: low;
3: medium ;
4: high
(0.09 to 0.82)
Jokhio 2005[15]
rural Pakistan
Cluster RCT
7 clusters
TBA training and health service integration, issue of sterile delivery kits vs. usual care
19,557 pregnant women
19,524 deliveries
3 high;
4: high
(0.45 to 1.23)
Munjanja 1996[16]
Harare, Zimbabwe
Cluster RCT
7 clusters
Intervention: fewer, but goal-oriented antenatal visits vs. standard "westernised" antenatal care
15,994 low risk pregnancies
15,532 deliveries
2: medium; 3:medium;
4: low
(0.23 to 2.61)
Villar 2001 [20]
Argentina, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Thailand
Cluster RCT
53 clusters
Intervention: fewer, but goal-oriented antenatal visits vs. standard "westernised" antenatal care
24,526 low risk pregnant women
22,793 single births
3: medium 4:high
(0.37 to 3.29)
Majoko 2007[19]
rural Zimbabwe
Cluster RCT
23 clusters
Intervention: fewer, but goal-oriented antenatal visits vs. standard "westernised" antenatal care
13179 pregnant women
1:medium; 2:high;
3: low;
4: high
(0.38 to 9.43)
Ackermann-Liebrich 1996[28]
Prospective cohort study with nested matched pairs
Women opting for home vs. hospital birth in "westernised" setting
874 pregnant women
857 deliveries
2: low;
3 :not applicable; 4:low
de Bernis 2000,
Prospective survey of two cohorts
Women in Kaolack delivered mainly by TBAs in district birth centres vs. women in St Louis delivered mainly by midwives in hospital
3,777 pregnant women
3,689 deliveries
3,476 live births
1:low; 2:medium;
3:high; 4:unclear
(1·66 to 20·53)
Greenwood 1990[31]
rural Gambia
Prospective cohort
TBA training, village health worker support and obstetric pack vs. no additional care
1,963 pregnancies
1:low; 2:medium;
3:medium; 4:unclear
(0·43 to 2·75)
Fauveau 1991; Maine 1996[23, 32]
rural, Bangladesh (Matlab)
Prospective cohort
Midwives working with community health workers and TBAs to attend home births, manage obstetric complications and accompany referral cases to project clinic vs. routine care (not described) plus access to project clinic
9,630 live births
3:unclear; 4:unclear
(0·13 to 0·93)
Ronsmans 1997[24]
rural Bangladesh (Matlab)
Prospective cohort
Access to above Matlab Intervention vs. "routine care"
24,059 live births
3:unclear; 4:unclear
(0·5 to 1·36)
Foord 1995; Fox-Rushby & Foord 1995, 1996. [33–35]
The Gambia
Prospective cohort
Early identification of pregnant women by trained TBAs, mobile antenatal unit to treat anaemia and infections; referral/transfer for obstetric emergency treatment; low-cost insurance scheme to pay for treatment vs. care by TBAs with minimal tertiary facilities
1,059 women delivering
(0·02 to 1·55)
Xu 1995[36]
Prospective cohort
Reorganisation of maternity care to include better clinical governance, education and training of staff, and some community education
1:low; 2:unclear;
Zhang 2004[37]
Cohort: Complex stratification of "randomly selected" project and matched non-project areas
Maternal and child health providers at grass roots level given two weeks theory training; some also given one month clinical skills training
1:low; 2:unclear;
None of the trials was powered to assess maternal mortality, although one trial did show a significant reduction based on small numbers of deaths [15]. Of the randomised controlled trials, two evaluated interventions to improve perinatal care practices [15, 17]. Both aimed to educate lay birth attendants in awareness of basic concepts of maternal and neonatal care, reduce unsafe delivery practices, and increase referral where there may be problems [15, 17, 18]. Both provided adequate information to estimate the impact of the cluster design on maternal mortality outcomes. No adjustment for the cluster design was required for maternal mortality, as the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was estimated to be zero. Three trials with equivalence hypotheses assessed reduced frequency but goal-oriented antenatal care models [16, 19, 20]. None of these trials adjusted for cluster effect for maternal mortality (for the meta-analysis we presumed that they also would have an ICC of zero, and no adjustment for clustering was made).
The outcomes of all included studies are shown in Table 2. The non-randomised studies were of insufficient quality to draw conclusions about their effectiveness.
This systematic review found a paucity of comparative studies of community-level interventions measuring maternal mortality. Only the RCTs provided reliable evidence. Meta-analysis of the interventions aimed at improving perinatal care practices, already shown to be effective in reducing perinatal or neonatal mortality, showed a reduction in maternal mortality. This constitutes evidence that is too strong for the effect of community-level perinatal care practices on reducing maternal mortality to be dismissed.
From the outset, we employed a broad definition of "community-level" to include interventions which were accessed or delivered locally in the community. This meant that three studies of antenatal care practices met our inclusion criteria, as they were conducted in local clinics. These trials of minimal but goal-oriented antenatal care, designed to determine whether this model was as effective as standard, more frequent "westernised" care, showed no difference in maternal death. These results confirm and consolidate the findings of the Cochrane review on patterns of antenatal care for low risk pregnancy [21] and the WHO systematic review of routine antenatal care [22], incorporating a more recent trial by Majoko et al [19]. The implications for antenatal care practice are fully discussed in these reviews and will not be repeated here.
This systematic review employed an exhaustive search strategy, with a wide range of databases and searches, enabling us to compile a comprehensive collection of potentially relevant studies reporting maternal deaths. We had considered that inclusion of non-randomised controlled studies could have provided the review with added breadth. Unfortunately, poor quality, in particular high chance of selection bias resulting from lack of randomisation, renders their results highly inconclusive. One of these studies, in Matlab, Bangladesh, represented a major initiative in the attempt to change maternity services to reduce maternal mortality. Community midwives worked with community health workers and traditional birth attendants to attend home-births, detect and manage obstetric complications and refer to higher level care as required. A decrease in mortality was observed (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.88) which was taken as sufficient evidence to extend the intervention[23]. However, an adjacent comparison area subsequently experienced a similar decrease in mortality, and the improvement in mortality rates in both areas was later largely ascribed to women's self-referral to accessible hospital emergency obstetric care[24]. More recently, other factors have also been postulated, such as safe abortion and family planning to reduce abortion deaths [25]. After 30 years, the Matlab studies have been unable to determine with certainty the effectiveness of interventions.
A limitation of this review was the paucity of eligible randomised trials and the necessity to undertake two meta-analyses because of the two distinct types of intervention. Meta-analysis is a powerful and valid tool for combining rare outcomes, provided that appropriate methods are used which avoid large sample approximations [14]. There were however, inadequate data to test for heterogeneity, which should be considered a secondary issue when pooling rare outcomes [14]. Visually, heterogeneity for the antenatal care models appeared to be low but it is difficult to assess with so few trials.
Another potential limitation arises from the outcome of interest being extremely rare. This review included only studies which stated whether deaths had occurred. This meant that two small studies which did not report maternal deaths [26, 27] (one with a death, one without) found in the reviews on antenatal care patterns were not included in the present review. We cannot exclude the possibility that other studies may have known of, but not reported, maternal deaths.
The interventions were so similar in the three reduced but goal-oriented antenatal care trials that, the decision to pool their data was obvious. Combining results of both trials of improved perinatal health care practices may initially seem counter-intuitive. The intervention in Nepal was focussed on facilitator-led women's groups [17, 18] and the intervention in Pakistan on linkage and training of traditional birth attendants [15]. However, we believe a meta-analysis of these trials to be appropriate, since the interventions in both aimed to improve the standard of perinatal care, by increasing hygienic practices and integrating modestly improved primary health care services, as reflected in process outcomes for both trials. Both trials were in resource-poor rural settings.
The evidence from this review, albeit based on only two trials and both in rural Asia, suggests that community-level interventions to improve perinatal care practices can also reduce maternal mortality. Few would contest the importance of continuing to establish maternity services which allow women to deliver in a health facility and have timely access to comprehensive obstetric emergency care. These services must provide appropriate evidence-based care, be adequately resourced and acceptable to women. In many countries with high maternal mortality, the strategy of intra-partum care based in health centres "is simply not achievable with current resources and infrastructure, and without other evidence-based options, countries could be left without adequate guidance about how to proceed" [8]. Alongside strengthening facility based care, therefore, there is a need to develop and properly evaluate community-level strategies to improve maternal health outcomes, including mortality, especially in rural areas. Such strategies are inevitably complex and multifaceted. Thus process outcomes that describe how the strategy is implemented (eg distribution and use of clean delivery kits, use of sterile blade to cut the cord, whether birth attendant washed her hands) and the participants' experience (eg referral to higher level care, type and place of delivery) are necessary to understand "how" the intervention works and will improve the generalisability of the results.
The studies in Nepal and Pakistan have clearly shown that it is possible to design, implement and evaluate large scale interventions using randomised controlled designs. These trials have already produced valid policy-relevant evidence to show that neonatal and perinatal mortality can be reduced by community-level interventions to improve perinatal care practices. Such interventions, directed at improving maternity services, are likely to influence both maternal and perinatal outcomes but many studies are primarily generated and evaluated from one perspective only. Debate as to whether perinatal mortality can serve as a proxy for maternal mortality [15] may be less appropriate than directing concerted efforts to reduce and measure both within maternity services programmes. Many countries and agencies do implement large-scale and expensive programmes which could generate effectiveness evidence by incorporating cluster trial techniques, such as rolling out the programme in a randomised manner ('randomised roll-out'). This type of approach will, in the medium to longer term, produce evidence on which to base policies on how to achieve significant reductions in maternal mortality.
In summary, this review found that only RCTs provided reliable evidence. This evidence suggests that community-level interventions that improve perinatal practices can reduce maternal mortality. This finding challenges the view that investment in community-level interventions is not worthwhile, although further studies in different settings and contexts are needed. Study designs now allow for robust evaluation of large-scale programmes. It is imperative that we use randomised techniques to obtain more conclusive evidence of how to achieve the 5th MDG of reducing maternal mortality.
We would like to thank Yen-Fu Chen, who is a systematic reviewer, for providing data extraction and discussion on one included Chinese paper, Iria Rodriguez-Cobo for providing translation of abstracts in Portuguese and Spanish and Anne Walker for her administrative support. We are grateful to Paul F A Van Look for his critical review of the paper.
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Pre-publication history
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Whole Foods highlights through a 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system how animals are raised before being purchased by consumers. Global Animal Partnership (GAP), developers of Whole Foods' rating system, seeks to achieve higher welfare for farm animals by building partnerships, working in collaboration with farmers, ranchers, food retail, and animal science experts.
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Hello #GoDoFly lovers!
Here we are to present to you the fifth one on the Wonderful Team Leadership Award list! For more info – http://thealwaysbeliever.com/wonderful-team-readership-award/
It is a post that talks all about getting older. It is a laugh, it is a heads up, it is a work of art. It is what it is. What do you think about getting older?
For us, we are birthday cake older yet we are young at heart! 🙂
Thanks for the love and support,
The Always Believer
How You Know You're Getting Old
I woke up today and came to the conclusion I'm at official coffin dodger status. How did this happen? I always assumed one day when I'm 25 I'll wake up and think 'Okay, now I become a mature responsible adult' and then slowly and gracefully age. In stead, I'm in my early twenties and someone has stolen my body and replaced it with an old persons. I have noticed a lot recently how much I struggle to find the energy to do things and I really think it's because I'm old now. Stick a fork in me I'm done. Seriously I've spent the past 4 hours sat on the sofa watching batman under a blanket whilst stuffing my face. Okay I'll admit I'm a teensy weensy bit hungover but still, I'm a student, coping with a hangover is second nature. However today it is not for me. I'm old. I know this for these reasons: