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First doctors, now teachers. Has the government embarked on a mission to stamp on the caring professions?
Hot on the heels of launching its 'nuclear option' of imposing a much-detested new contract on junior doctors, Number 10 chose last week to get rough and ready with the country's teachers.
The biggest overhaul in education for more than 60 years was revealed not by the Education Secretary but by the Chancellor. George Osborne's bombshell education announcement – placed, rather peculiarly, in the middle of his Budget – was to turn every state school in England into an "academy" – so-called "forced academisation" or, as the Economist preferred to put it, "the Starbucksification of schools".
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan immediately turned Jeremy Hunt-like language on complaining teachers, because why not take tips from a man who managed to alienate an entire profession of doctors?
There is "no reverse gear when it comes to our education reforms", she declared this weekend, as blunt as she was dismissive. Meanwhile, Junior Health Minister Ben Gummer dismissed junior doctors' strikes as pointless, since "that train has now left the station".
One has to wonder at the Government's chutzpah in so bullishly persisting with public service overhauls against which entire professions are united.
But for now, at least, teachers have been spared the Government's most heavy-handed rhetoric. Junior doctors have been variously described as "militants", "radicals" and "politically poisoned" – all, apparently, for having the temerity to speak out against a government policy which we believe will endanger the safety of our patients.
Presumably, if teachers remain out of line on "academisation", they too will be subjected to Government insinuations that their behaviour is somehow akin to that of terrorists.
What is striking in both stand-offs against both teachers and doctors is the Government's refusal to see our resistance to their policies as being driven by anything other than self-interest. Actually, what most strongly unites our professions is our concern for the most vulnerable people in society – and our steadfast unwillingness to sign up to political spin masquerading as hard evidence.
The "seven-day NHS" is a case in point: a brilliant soundbite dressed up in emotive, patient-centred rhetoric, yet backed by neither the funds nor staff required for its safe delivery. Doctors, steeped in evidence-based medicine, cannot condone the nonsense that an un-costed, unstaffed, seven-day soundbite is genuinely beneficial for patients.
And so it is with academies. The government assertion that chains of "multi-academy trusts" will drive up standards in schools is backed up by surprisingly little evidence that academy chains are any more adroit than local authorities at supervising schools.
Nonetheless, the government persists in branding teachers' and doctors' concerns with its policies as a dereliction of our duty to our patients/pupils. "Teaching unions have a choice," said Nicky Morgan this week. "Spend the next four years doing battle with us and doing down the profession they represent, or stepping up, seizing the opportunities offered… and helping us to shape the future of the education system."
What the government appears not to have appreciated is the profound resolve of both doctors and teachers to protect our patients and our pupils from unsubstantiated Government spin.
Already, the country's biggest teaching union has voted to ballot its members on whether to go on strike over the new academy policy. To preside over one public workers' strike is careless; to precipitate two is positively election-threatening.
David Cameron now potentially faces simultaneous doctors' strikes, teachers' strikes and an EU referendum. It's set to be a long, hot summer.


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Hey friends! I loved all my clients and sessions this year, these five are my ABSOLUTE favorites from 2015!!!
5. Every year I like to do one or two community/give back projects. In the spring one of the schools was having a father/daughter; mother/son type dance. I volunteered my services, and the night was great! This photo is SUCH a great representation of family life at times. It can be crazy. Some days you just have to smile, laugh, and roll with the punches.
4. E's mom asked me to do her Holy Communion photos. The only thing was I couldn't photograph in the church. They had their own photographer they wanted people to use during the ceremony. Time to think outside the box! We got some shots in the basement chapel, and outside the church. This shot was taken after the session. I saw little E on the swing celebrating the end of her photo session! Not wanting to miss an opportunity I ran over. The results? My favorite shot of the session.
3. Angus made his photo debut before Christmas. This dog is such a nut but I love him! He reminds me a little bit of myself. A little wacky, out there, fun loving, and full of energy. I think that is why he likes me so much! We got A LOT of funny, and hilarious shots this session. He looks so regal here protecting his littles. Angus wrote a letter to his humans as well. Click on this link to read it here.
2. Over the last several years, I've made my kids' Halloween costumes. I just got fed up that I couldn't find what I wanted, and the quality was less than stellar. Usually I will sew them. This year I channeled my inner Project Runway and went for the "unconventional challenge" Little O. debuted as a cloud. She served up her eternal diva-ness in the session, and blew me away.
AND FINALLY.... MY FAVORITE IMAGE OF 2015...insert drum roll please!
1 J.P. Carillo, bass player of Joy on Fire. Click this link to hear their sound. This shot was from a band session we did back in June. It was shot at Division Street Guitars in Peekskill, NY. This was my first formal band shoot. Anna, Chris, and John are exceptional musicians. When they play, they put their whole hearts into and leave it beating on the stage. I love this image because it captures the soul of an artist doing what he loves.
If you missed photos 10-6 click here to see them!

subset: commoncrawl


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1. If you wear makeup, why do you wear makeup and how often do you wear makeup?
I wear makeup most days, not a lot but the bit I do wear definitely gives me confidence.
2. What made you want to participate in this portrait series?
I'm interested to see how I look makeup free but professionally photographed. Also, think it's a really beautiful project to be part of.
3. Is being completely makeup free something that makes you feel in any way uncomfortable?
Yes, I can feel uncomfortable I certain places with no make up. I also like to feel like I'm making a effort to look my best.
4. Are there specific factors (positive or negative) that have influenced how you feel about how you look?
I think every woman is influenced by how they feel about the way they look.... The people around you as you grow up, the people you look up to and admire, your friends.
5. If there was one piece of advice for the future you could give your younger self, what would it be?
Don't care as much as you did about what other people think of you, the people around you, that love you and you love are the important ones. Don't let things people say, get to you just let it go, walk away from bad situations rather than fight them.
6. When have you felt most empowered in your life?
I have felt empowered by giving birth to my children, by finding a man who loves me for who I am and our relationship always growing and getting stronger. By the moments I have with my children when they are having a difficult time and I can sort it out for them, the moments we all as a family have a really great time together.
By being out and feeling really good about myself.
7. Is there a woman fictional or real that you admire? Why?
I admire many woman, my mum, all my beautiful friends, my sister. I admire Madonna because she is a strong sexy confident woman.
8. What quality do you most admire in yourself?
I admire that I am a good mother to my children and try to be a positive happy influence on them. If I can do that, they can hopefully be strong, happy, confident people.
9. Is there an achievement you are particularly proud of? Why?
Giving birth to my children.
10. In daily life what are the pressures you feel most exposed to specifically as a woman?
Keeping the house together, keeping all my children happy, not letting go of who I am but being the best mummy I can, not losing it at my children when the are really kicking off. Being patient with my daughter. Wanting to look the best for my husband so he always wants me. Juggling family life while trying to keep friendships going.


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A plot to delay Brexit by up to two years was underway Wednesday night after four Cabinet ministers betrayed Theresa May by helping to kill no deal for good.
Brexit will be delayed until June 30 even if MPs can be persuaded to back a deal next week. If a deal is rejected again a "much longer" delay will be inevitable, May warned.
On a historic night in the Commons, May lost control of her party – and the Brexit process – as Amber Rudd, David Gauke, Greg Clark and David Mundell defied a three-line whip by abstaining from a vote that would have kept no deal on the table if the government had won.
The government lost the vote by 321 votes to 278, forcing May to give MPs a vote on delaying Brexit tonight.
May said MPs would be able to vote tomorrow for a "short, sharp" three-month delay, dependent on them voting for a deal on or before March 20.
The vote would contain provision for May to ask the EU for a longer delay at the European Council meeting on March 21, but that would mean Britain having to take part in the European elections in May. MPs are expected to vote in favour of a delay this evening.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that ministers have already discussed the possibility of a two-year delay.
A total of 18 members of the government either voted for or abstained from a motion to block no deal for good, despite them standing on a manifesto that promised Britain would be prepared to walk away from the EU without a deal.
Last night it emerged that a senior government figure – a Remain voter – told the ministers they could abstain without being sacked, in direct contradiction of Julian Smith, the Chief Whip, who was said to be "incandescent".
One MP said: "He went rogue – I don't think [May] knew what he was doing. It was part of a plot to get Remainer rebels to block no deal."
May is so weakened that she did not sack any of the ministers who defied the whip, who also included Claire Perry, the business minister. Sarah Newton, the minister for disabled people, was the only minister to resign.
The Tory Party was on the brink of open warfare as Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, used his Spring Statement to set out an alternative Brexit. He said it was time to "map out a way forward towards building a consensus… for a deal we can collectively support" – a comment seen as a call to compromise with Labour, rather than pursuing May's path of winning over Tory MPs and calling a third vote on her deal.
May is now under pressure from some Cabinet members, including Hammond, to hold a series of so-called indicative votes tomorrow to find out what Parliament wants. The votes on options that could include a "common market 2.0" and even a customs union would not be binding, but would inform the government of what sort of deal might command a majority.
If she does not allow such votes, a cross-party group plans to table an amendment to tonight's vote to ensure indicative votes happened next week.
MPs rejected an attempt by Brexiteers to change the date of Britain's exit from the EU to May 22 and then impose a "standstill" period for two and half years to allow a trade deal to be agreed. The so-called Malthouse Amendment was defeated by 374 to 164, a majority of 210.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, said: "I have never in 27 years as an MP seen anything like what is happening in government now."


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House of 5th is happy to introduce our new St. Elle Handbag, with help from Madison Hromodka of Preppy Guide to Life.
"St. Elle is inspired by the classic design of the past and crafted for the lifestyle of the forward woman. She is homage to the Audrey Hepburns of the world and the independence and feminine ingenuity of the Halle Berrys."
- Truen Jaimes, Creative Director
The hand dyed leather is available in our exclusive House of 5th color options, with detail in every corner of the St. Elle. Inside the St. Elle is a 100% cotton lining, with the option of including the House of 5th signature zip out spill proof lining. The tech savvy woman carrying this bag will value the pockets for your tablet, smartphone, cords, wallets and even large designer sunglasses pocket. This will be the must have bag to carry between socializing at brunch or professional appointments.
Madison Hromodka is an Indianapolis style blogger that was inspiration for the St. Elle. Truen Jaimes the House of 5th Creative Director, "I drew a lot of inspiration from Madison's own lifestyle for the St. Elle. I tend to lean towards the edgier design elements, but flirted with a much more refined or sophisticated design, due to my interaction with Preppy Guide to Life this past year."
505 Photo Studio shot the video featuring Hromodka and Jaimes introducing the St. Elle. The video highlights the function and lifestlye of the woman carrying the St. Elle in her life.


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In my experience, the warmest gestures of inclusion usually come from people who spend little time talking about how inclusive they are. When a person flashes inclusivity like a badge, especially in comparison to those noninclusive extremists over there, it's a safe bet an ideological mugging is imminent. Consider, for example, the Rev. Nanette H. Hilliard, pastor of The Great Awakening, an 18-month-old United Church of Christ Congregation in Virginia Beach. Hilliard and The Great Awakening (one of the coolest, most audacious congregation names in American history) are the subjects of a glowing profile by Steven G. Vegh in this morning's edition of The Virginian-Pilot. Hilliard is prepared to bless gay couples, but she assures Vegh that she extends compassion to the invincibly ignorant people who do not agree with her. Vegh writes:
Hilliard is similarly broad-minded about the Bible and conservatives who base their rejection of gays on a direct reading of Scripture. "The literal meaning, without any further research, is where they desire to stay. I respect their right to be there."
Her own approach is to dig deeper, studying the texts' literary forms, the circumstances of the writers, why the passages were written in the first place.
But, then, the problem is just as likely with Vegh's reporting style.
He speculates loosely about people's church backgrounds based on their posture and writes as though Pentecostals consider the Holy Spirit an impersonal force, like electricity:
Take that woman bowing toward the altar on Sunday morning -- probably an ex-Catholic. The singing parishioner with an arm raised like a flag pole? Assemblies of God. Now and again, someone will be "slain in the spirit," Pentecostal jargon for the jolt of religious ecstasy that can knock a body head-over-heels.
He tosses "sex outside of marriage" into a list of legalistic taboos, as if it's as frivolous as a stolen moment with one's first Marlboro :
Hilliard grew up attending the Church of God in Christ, where doctrine forbade cursing, tobacco, sex outside of marriage, attending dances and watching movies.
And by story's end, Hilliard again expresses her kindness toward those pathological, ism-driven souls who haven't risen to her level of Christian discipleship:
Hilliard knows views like hers are unusual, even unpopular, among many who live and worship in Hampton Roads. She is not dismayed.
"I'm black, I'm female, I'm a divorcee, I've been a single parent," she said. "I'm familiar with ostracism, racism, sexism. I'm familiar with rejection, disapproval, sabotage -- and I'm primarily talking about the church.
"But I'm more familiar with the love of God, extended to all people. Jesus Christ has never called me to be popular -- only faithful."
Some reporters actually cover church debates about homosexuality that reflect the theological engagement, honest questions and respectful disagreement existing on both sides. Ah, but when your subject has achieved such a sublime level of inclusivity and her opponents are such indisputable knaves, why bother?


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Who doesn't love juicy, bright summer fruits on a warm, sunny day? This salad is super simple to make, but the flavors and presentation are incredibly impressive and eye-catching. The earthy, peppery taste of the arugula and olive oil mixed with the natural sweetness of the watermelon and the briny bite from the Goat feta cheese is simply perfection. Forget about that bland, mixed green salad or that boring Caesar, and give this a try! Like what you see? Like what you taste? #GotRoomForMore on Twitter and send me a pic of the Got Room For More recipes you try!
- 2.5 ounces of Baby Arugula
- 1.5 lbs Seedless Watermelon cut into 1.5 inch cubes
- Extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup Balsamic Vinegar
- .25 lbs Goat Feta cut into small cubes (about ¼ inch thick)
- 1 Cup of Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes (orange, yellow, green and red to bring out color)
- Salt and Pepper
- Cut tomatoes in half if they're very small and quarter them if they are on the larger side, and put them into a large bowl
- Put the balsamic in a small nonstick pan on the stove on medium heat. Cook for a few minutes until it bubbles and turns into the consistency of chocolate syrup.
- Set aside to cool slightly while to do the next steps
- Toss together the arugula, watermelon, and feta in the bowl with the tomatoes
- Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the top to taste
- Drizzle 3 or so tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the top and toss with salad tongs (you may want more or less..eyeball it. The juice from the melon also acts as part of the dressing so you do not want to over dress it).
- Drizzle the balsamic over the top and toss lightly
- Serve on its own or as a side or starter course


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Continuing our discussion of the atrocious exemptions in the DISCLOSE Act, the RJ nailed it in yesterday's editorial.
As I've said, we need a system where both free speech and transparency peacefully co-exist. Private groups should be able present their message without government interference and citizens should be able to know who is backing candidates through comprehensive disclosure rules.
The DISCLOSE Act, as it currently stands, undermines both free speech and the principles of transparency. It unduly stifles free speech through onerous requirements while carving out exemptions for powerful interest groups. As a result, groups on the left, like the ACLU, and the right, such as the Chamber of Commerce, currently oppose the DISCLOSE Act.
If Congress really wants more transparent elections, they should focus on strengthening disclosure rules for politicians instead of trampling the free speech rights of private citizens. Allow citizens to speak and donate freely but just mandate full disclosure on the politician's part. This way, citizens can enjoy their First Amendment rights while elections remain transparent.


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What are CYT Classes?
CYT offers 2 class sessions each school year for kids ages 4-18. These after-school classes are offered in drama, music, dance, musical theater, areas of technical specialty, and much more! For 10 weeks, students will enjoy weekly two-hour classes and then perform what they've learned in a high energy Showcase for family and friends. CYT strives to offer challenging classes in a variety of content areas with multiple class days and locations, so there's something for everyone. Students develop their skills by learning from experienced teachers, performers, and technicians, while having fun and making friends!
Enrolled students, ages 8-18, are also eligible to audition for a CYT Broadway-style musical! Students may also serve as ushers at CYT shows, work on a backstage crew, sell concessions, deliver Star Grams, or assist with props and makeup.


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|the ridge cowl, purl soho
she wears it with a little more sass then in this picture, makes it a little more of her own. however it is worn, it looks great and i am really pleased with how it came out. the yarn is very light but warm and gives the cowl a lot of movement. whenever she wears it i am amazed at how great it looks. but i will never make another one.
maybe i should qualify that by saying i love the pattern and i love the yarn, but i will never put them together again. ever.
|berroco foilo yarn, pearl and mount desert
still, the cowl is done, my sweet friend loves it and i can move on to other knitting.
which i did.
neck and neck with finishing the cowl, i finished the first sock in the pair i am knitting for myself. it is wonderful and i love it!
|zig zag lace sock
colorway, nemo
the pattern was one size fits all and i was concerned it would be a bit small, but it is really the perfect size. i have already turned the heel and finished the gusset on the second sock. which is very exciting since it means it is almost done. which means i would then have a pair; which means i can wear them!
the last thing i made was a baby hat. i don't knit for babies but a friend of ours is having a baby in march and i thought it could use a hat or two. so this is the first...
|baby hat with top knot
sidar snuggly
this was a very quick knit. it is easy to forget how small people are when they are born which makes their articles of clothing small. as well as being easy and quick to knit. hopefully she and the baby will like it.
my gauge was off a smidge on this one so it came out a little bigger than i planned. i am thinking of knitting another hat that will be smaller. different pattern, different gauge.
but it won't happen until next week, after the valentine knitting is done!


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Wigan defender Gary Caldwell will miss the start of the season - and up to five Scotland matches - due to double hip surgery.
Caldwell last week underwent an operation on his left hip and will return in two months for the same procedure on his right hip.
The 28-year-old will definitely miss Scotland's opening two Euro 2012 campaign openers and possibly two more.
Former Celtic defender Caldwell told the News of the World: "Experts say I'll be out for between three and five months.
"Hopefully, the right hip won't be as bad as the left hip and I can push towards being out for just three months.
"It all depends on how quickly my body heals. I will definitely miss the start of the season with Wigan as well as Scotland's friendly against Sweden in August.
"I'll also miss our opening two European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania and Liechtenstein at the start of September.
"It will be touch and go for our next double header away to the Czech Republic and at home to Spain in October.
"I'm hoping to be back playing for Wigan by then, so who knows? If I hit the ground running I might just be in contention for those crucial two qualifiers.
"It's not an ideal start to the new season but I thought it was better to get the work done during the summer so I could finally put my hip problems behind me after a frustrating year."
Source: PA


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|You can bet there are a couple of RFPs behind our problem of a stadium
I guess the question I'm asked the most often is: "When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?" Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts -- all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract. - John Glenn, american astronaut
I already wrote about my hate of the RFP process in The worst way to choose a digital agency.
If you're buying a commodity product, a Requests For Proposal (RFP) might make sense because it is easy to compare vendors on a few, easily isolated variables like quality, price, speed, etc.
But when choosing a digital agency or for any kind of complex service, it is guaranteed to fail miserably.
To believe otherwise, you need to be either:
1. Retarded: You have no clue.
2. Be an accountant: You believe that anything worth measuring is easily measured.
3. Working in a purchasing department: Keeping your jobs requires you to not understand.
4. Employed by the the government or a multinational: You're not rewarded for results, you don't care and it's not your money.
Not only are RFPs inefficient in finding the right service provider, but you don't need to be a genius to figure out how easy it is to manipulate this kind of process. Humans are clever and imaginative and there are many many ways to work around the system. To believe otherwise would be foolish.
Marketing directors have the hassle to constantly deal with legal and IT and you think that they can't run circles around the purchasing guys? C'mon.
I can't recount how many times competitors have called me to play dummy on a RFP they wanted to participate in. Or how many marketing directors I have seen warp the process to favor the agency they wanted.
And I'm not the only one ranting against the RFP process.
How to Hire a Marketing Agency (if even Mr Nice Guy Mitch Joel is against it, there is a reason)
Why RFPs Don't Work (for the client OR the agency)
RFPs sucks - don't take my word for it
RFPs Sucks
Wake up and smell the coffee Ms Bueller.
If you know someone who still believes in RFPs, please forward him this post. Who knows, they might wake up.


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"Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it." -Rumi
There is an amazing amount of story behind this story. From the very first moment we chatted with Natasha and Brian I was blown away with how beautiful their vision for this day was.
If you haven't seen the images from their rehearsal dinner you've missed a blast and if you haven't seen our engagement session with them at 5:00am on the Brooklyn Bridge just as the first touches of light his the southern tip of Manhattan - well you've missed a few of my favorite photos ever. But this entire day was it's own story. This day was the day that Brian would have a bride and that Natasha would finish with a husband. The location was such a neat challenge. From the moment we showed up to the Molly Pitcher Inn the morning of the wedding in Red Bank, NJ we were hit with ideas. This isn't the type of place where every vantage is iconic but it does have more neat little nooks and crannies than just about any other place I've ever shot. The light was a dream all day and though we definitely had to fight working around the rain that came just in time to cancel a gorgeous outdoor first look and ceremony - with the help of a GREAT wedding planner, an incredible staff, and some of the best friends this day came together perfectly. Brian is a completely amazing groom.
I have to admit when you picture a corporate attorney who works in Times Square every single day you don't picture this guy. YES, he's pretty clean cut, pretty refined, and incredibly articulate - he's also hilarious, very witty, super sensitive with Natasha, and the life of the party. Watching this guy go from the strong - caring guy that Natasha snuck up behind on their surprise first look to rapping 90's hip hop in the middle of the dance floor just a few hours later was amazing. For as much as I clicked with Brian (one of my favorite grooms of the year for sure) his wife is absolutely the coolest girl I know. I hate that the weather didn't turn out just how she wanted it on the wedding day because aside from that one little detail there wasn't a single second of stress all day. Natasha was fun, professional, sweet and clearly gorgeous all day. The moment she saw Brian she just sort of melted into him and the rain no longer meant much of anything.
I can sincerely say that watching an event staff turn an outdoor ceremony for about 200 people into an indoor ceremony for about 200 people in 20 minutes may have set records but they pulled it off. The band at this wedding were completely VIP (not surprising considering Natasha spends her entire life working with the music industry). HUGE thanks to Lauren Perry Events for all the help all weekend making sure this wedding went off perfectly - and to the Molly Pitcher Inn for making magic but mostly to Max for managing to keep me cool and dry while he spent the day running around in the rain chasing down things for me all while taking some of the absolute best images of his year so far.


text: The Bliz Edge Mark 16 delivers full frame protection with a our most advanced and revolutionary ULS Single double laminated photochromatic lens in the Mark 16, All Edges are OTG (over the glass compatible) have ventilated frames to resist fogging. They also come with triple density face hugging foam, an easy lens replacement system, adjustable 50mm strap and movable side clips for perfect fit with a helmet and also a protective cleaning storage pouch. Exterior cylindrical lens is made of unbreakable 100% UVA & UVB filtering Polycarbonate, the inner lens in Italian Acetate with best possible anti-fog treatment.


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CAPRICE | The Twenty-Third of July
CAPRICE | The Twenty-Third of July
Original encaustic mixed media painting on board, measuring 6"x 6".
I created these pieces in order to serve as a visual confession of something I have known about myself for a long time: I am moody.
My work is an outlet for my capricious tendencies. It can simply be a reflection of whatever I'm thinking about, watching, or listening to while I'm making it. Sometimes, I have some very deep thoughts, and other times…just meditative silence that forces my mind to quiet down. In my studio, I can be impulsive and rebellious. No sketchbook. No plan. I can change my mind over and over again about the direction a painting is headed, and my layers and layers of wax chronicle my every whim.
Add To Cart


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"No Woman, No Cry" Tackles Maternal Mortality
(Concord, NH, March 22, 2012) Fashion icon and film maker Christy Turlington Burns will present her film, "No Woman, No Cry "at Concord High School in the Christa McAuliffe Auditorium on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 7pm. "No Woman, No Cry" is a riveting documentary that follows four women in four countries including the United States, as they struggle to avoid adding to the grim maternal mortality statistics. This film has been selected as a feature presentation for The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's annual convention this summer.
Turlington Burns' appearance is part of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice's ongoing film series focusing on human rights around the world.
"When Hillary Clinton said in Beijing, 'human rights are women's rights - and women's rights are human rights,' she elucidated for all of us the profound link between a decent and hopeful future for women and a productive and prosperous future for society," said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. "In this powerful documentary we are reminded how far we have to go in achieving these goals."
Turlington Burns, who faced her own sense of mortality after the difficult delivery of her daughter, has dedicated her life to improving access to adequate health care for women around the world. She is the founder of Every Mother Counts, an advocacy campaign to increase support for maternal and child health.
"I am very honored that the Lantos Foundation for Humans Rights has selected No Woman, No Cry to be part of their ongoing film series focusing on human rights," said Christy Turlington Burns, director/producer and founder of Every Mother Counts. "I hope the film will illustrate to the Concord community the challenges so many women around the world face in accessing maternal health care at critical times during their reproductive lives. It is a human rights injustice to allow women to die while bringing life into the world when we know how to prevent most of these senseless deaths. Educating an empowered community like this one can bring about lasting social change."
Following the presentation Turlington Burns will join in a panel discussion with Dr. Barry D. Smith, former chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and current President of the New England OB/GYN Society and Katrina Lantos Swett.
Following the film and discussion, there will a reception.
Tickets are $20 and available through Red River Theatres or at the door the night of the event at Concord High School.


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Pancreatic intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm
Pancreatic intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms (ITPNs) are rare variants of intraductal papillary neoplasms. Unlike an IPMN, an ITPN does not produce mucin.
On this page:
Incidence/prevalence is unclear. Small series show an even male:female distribution and an average age of presentation of 58 years old 1.
Clinical presentation
Nonspecific. Presents similarly to other pancreatic tumors, with signs/symptoms depending on the location of the tumor. They demonstrate high-grade atypia.
According to the WHO criteria, ITPN is a subtype of intraductal tubular neoplasms (ITN). Histologically, these tumors are distinct from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), and intraductal variant of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.
Tumor cells form tubulopapillae and contain little cytoplasmic
mucin. There is also absence of acinar differentiation.
- positive for cytokeratin 7 and/or cytokeratin 19
- negative for trypsin, MUC2, MUC5AC, and fascin.
- aberrant expression of b-catenin is not observed.
Radiographic features
Like a main-duct IPMN, an ITPN demonstrates a dilated and irregular main pancreatic duct, but without an abundance of low attenuation mucin.
- a "two-tone duct" or "cork-in-bottle" sign has been suggested 2
- a soft-tissue attenuation "cork" in the main pancreatic duct plugs the lower attenuation pancreatic fluid
- main pancreatic duct distal to the tumor is dilated
- intraductal tumor is isoattenuating or mildly hyperattenuating relative to surrounding pancreatic parenchyma
- the tumor is relatively hypoattenuating after contrast administration
- T1: tumor is mildly hypointense
- T2: tumor is mildly hyperintense
- MRCP: tumor fills main pancreatic duct like a "cork"
Treatment and prognosis
Because of the rarity of the tumor, treatment and prognosis are not well established. In one series, 8/10 patients are still alive after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Differential diagnosis
- pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: may invade retroperitoneal structures, ITPN is not known to do this
- intraductal extension of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma
- 1. Yamaguchi H, Shimizu M, Ban S et-al. Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas distinct from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 2009;33 (8): 1164-72. doi:10.1097/PAS.0b013e3181a162e5 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Motosugi U, Yamaguchi H, Furukawa T et-al. Imaging studies of intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas: 2-tone duct sign and cork-of-wine-bottle sign as indicators of intraductal tumor growth. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2012;36 (6): 710-7. doi:10.1097/RCT.0b013e31826d1fc8 - Pubmed citation


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Rafael Overload!October 22, 2014
10 comments
Oh so cute! My laptop memory's filled with pictures of my children so I get it. ;)ReplyDelete
Oh how I miss being younger so I can make three more.Replies
Thanks mommy May! Our children's baby photos are such priceless treasures! They grow up so fast I can't help but take a lot of photos to capture every milestone :)Delete
He's so cute! What a nice way to start a mom's day. :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you, Audric's mom! Its amazing how kids have that power to make people smile sooo effortlessly!Delete
- AnonymousNovember 2, 2014 at 9:34 AM
Cuteness overload! We're now in the " little boy selfie phase". Our phones' photo galleries are full of my son's selfies!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you, nanaystrip! We'll soon enter that phase too.. These little angels are so cute! They are really heaven sent!Delete
Aw, ang cute cute cute cute cute niya! :D Such a happy baby! :) Ako rin, my phone's memory is ALWAYS full because I keep taking pictures and videos of our son :) They grow up so fast -- buti na lang naimbento ang camera!ReplyDeleteReplies
I agree with you, mommy Vicky! Big help talaga na naimbemto ang smart phone at digital camera. Capturing our beloved children's special moments had never been so easy! :)Delete
Aww cute, I just want to pinch those cheeks!ReplyDelete
Thank you, M! :)ReplyDelete


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Thursday, October 23, 2014
Epitaph of an Epicurean
Carmina Latina Epigraphica 961 = Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 10.2971 = Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae 7781 (Naples, 1st century B.C.), tr. E. Courtney, Musa Lapidaria (Atlanta: Scholar's Press, 1995), p. 49:Newer› ‹Older
Courtney (commentary on p. 241) says:
Gaius Stallius Hauranus is in possession of this abode, a member of the revelling Epicurean band.The Latin, from Courtney, p. 48:
Stallius Gaius has sedes Hauranus tuetur,Lewis and Short define the compound gaudivigens (apparently a hapax legomenon) as "alive with joy, full of joy." I don't see the word in the Oxford Latin Dictionary, although the inscription dates from the first century B.C., well before the OLD's cutoff of ca. 200 A.D. Otto Gradenwitz, Laterculi vocum Latinarum: voces Latinas et a fronte et a tergo ordinandas (Leipzig: S. Hirzel, 1904), p. 486, lists gaudivigens but no other compounds ending in -vigens.
ex Epicureio gaudiuigente choro.
Courtney (commentary on p. 241) says:
Stallius however seems not to have been a serious Epicurean, but one who took the creed as an excuse for a voluptuous life; the tone is very much that of Epicuri de grege porcum, sharpened in Cicero's attack on Piso.But cf. Dirk Obbink, "Vergil, Philodemus, and the Lament of Iuturna," in Vertis in Usum: Studies in Honor of Edward Courtney (München: Saur, 2002), pp. 90-113 (at 110, n. 56):
Actually Epicureius (here transferred poetically to chorus) indicates that that Stallius was no mere Epicurean, but rather an Epicurean philosophus, i.e. teacher. Cf. the other instances of Epicureus, Stoicus, and philosophus cited in CIL ad loc.; for philosophical designations in inscriptions and papyri see J. and L. Robert, REG 71 (1958) 197-200.See also Kent J. Rigsby, "Hauranus the Epicurean," Classical Journal 104.1 (2008) 19-22.


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Reservoirs feeding Lake Oroville are filled to brim as more rain rolls in
Get a glimpse of the damage to Oroville Dam's main spillway after several days of running at 100,000 cubic feet per second
Lake Almanor is full. So is Antelope Lake.
In fact, all of the nine reservoirs in the Feather River watershed that feed directly into Lake Oroville are brimming with water from recent storms.
With more rain falling and another even heavier storm predicted for Monday and Tuesday, Plumas County officials are anxiously watching both the sky and the reservoirs above their communities.
"I'm watching, and I'm worried," said Plumas County Supervisor Kevin Goss.
RELATED: Central Valley urged to be ready to 'evacuate quickly' as another storm approaches
RELATED: Town of Maxwell floods as worry about Oroville Dam shifts to creeks and canals
The last set of storms flooded his Indian Valley district, pinning Goss in his home 20 miles from Greenville, isolating Greenville and Taylorsville from one another, and blocking travel out of the area in all directions. Flooding damaged sewer systems and roads all over Plumas County, an expanse of rugged terrain that sits to the northeast of Oroville and includes part of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Poised alongside reservoirs managed for hydropower and water users as far away as southern California, community leaders throughout the rural region wonder how the combination of additional rain and full-to-the-brim reservoirs will affect their districts as well as Oroville, where managers are trying to unload as much water as possible down the dam's damaged main spillway to make room for more coming in.
High in the headwaters above the ranches of Indian Valley, Antelope Lake holds around 27,000 acre feet of water. Operated by the California Department of Water Resources, Antelope is part of the State Water Project. It flows into a series of streams before emptying into Lake Oroville, which provides drinking water to more than 23 million people.
Last week, when ranchers and residents were flooded out of their homes in the valleys below, Antelope operators released 2,362 acre feet of water over six days. The largest single release – 714 acre feet – came on Feb. 10, when flooding across Indian Valley swept a Taylorsville resident off a bridge and into the creek near Crescent Mills. He survived.
Goss has not been contacted by DWR officials, he said, and has no information about how the Antelope releases affected his district.
DWR officials were preoccupied with the situation at Oroville and unavailable for comment on how they manage Antelope Lake. "I don't even know where that reservoir is," said DWR spokesman Chris Orrock, preoccupied with the situation at Oroville, where nearly 200,000 people were briefly ordered to evacuate last week amid fears that the dam's emergency spillway would fail.
Antelope is one of nine reservoirs that provide water to Lake Oroville. Three are managed by DWR; one is operated by the South Feather Water and Power Agency. The other five are owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric Co., producing electricity as part of the Feather River Stairway of Power.
The largest of these is Lake Almanor near Chester. It stores 1,142,000 acre feet, around one-third of the storage capacity of Lake Oroville.
During the recent storms, PG&E operators have worked to keep the popular recreation lake below the 4,494-foot elevation maximum, releasing water through a small outlet at the base of the dam as well as a tunnel to Butt Valley Reservoir, 10 miles south of Almanor.
Despite their efforts, water is flowing in as fast as it is flowing out, said Plumas County Supervisor Sherrie Thrall, who represents the Chester/Lake Almanor district. While most reservoirs have the possibility of spilling water during an emergency, spilling water out of Lake Almanor is not an option, she said.
Most of Chester is below the 4,500-foot spillway. If reservoir managers were forced to release water over the spillway near Canyondam, large portions of Chester would be inundated.
"That's why PG&E is working so hard to maintain a lower lake level," said Thrall.
PG&E has never used the spillway, said Paul Moreno, a company spokesman.
Thrall is in regular contact with PG&E officials, but she and other Plumas County officials worry that managing the upper watershed reservoirs is a low priority for DWR.
"It's not in the agency's mind that Antelope, Lake Davis and Frenchman are even connected to Oroville," said Robert A. Meacher, Portola city manager and former Plumas County supervisor representing Indian Valley. "We need better coordination in the operation of the entire Feather River system."
Michael Jackson, a Quincy-based attorney for the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, said DWR management of its upper watershed reservoirs has always suffered from "benign neglect." Recently it's been compounded by "drought mentality," he said.
When the rains began this month, Antelope levels were too high to allow controlled releases, he said. "They were so concerned with the last five years of drought they weren't paying attention. And Indian Valley is paying the price," said Jackson.
PG&E coordinates its reservoir management with DWR and is in daily contact with state officials, said Moreno. Most of the utility's dams on the Feather River direct water into powerhouses, which return it to the river after spinning turbines that generate electricity.
Moreno estimated the water released from Almanor, Bucks Lake and its other reservoirs at 2000 cubic feet per second. At about 2 percent of what DWR managers have been releasing from Lake Oroville, "it's the proverbial drop in a bucket," Moreno said.


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After nearly two hours of jumping on and off trains and tracks an Oakland BART station, police arrested a man Thursday morning.
BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said the man was arrested about 7:15 a.m. For nearly two hours before that, witnesses saw the man standing on top of the MacArthur BART station in Oakland, and jumping onto Interstate Higway 980, forcing the California Highway Patrol to temporarily close two lands.
BART ended up turning off the electricity to the trains in the area, because the man had been running around on them. Finally, BART police were able to detain him, but not without major train delays.


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Privacy Policy for Facebook.com/e-nable.all
Jon Schull, Founder, e-NABLE
Public Link: http://bit.ly/facebookEnablePrivacyPolicy
Introduction e-NABLE is a global network of volunteers using 3D-printers to make inexpensive prosthetics for underserved populations worldwide. Facebook.com/e-nable.all aggregates public facebook posts from over 80 e-nable-related facebook pages worldwide by moving posts from our feed to our wall.
Data While the facebook platform may well collect and store data about people browsing these pages, our app does not. To advance e-NABLE's philanthropic mission, we may collect and analyze data from postings on those pages. If you believe we have inadvertently collected non-public information about you or others in posts and comments on our site, please contact us so we can promptly address the issue.
Location We do not access your precise location.
Access. You can search our site for publicly visible posts and comments, including any that you have made.
Deletion We may keep data indefinitely. If you delete your own public posts, they may remain in our database unless you explicitly request removal.
Sharing We don't share personal data with other companies, with marketers or with partners.
California residents are legally entitled (at no charge and no more than once annually) to request information about how we may have shared your information with others for direct marketing purposes. Contact us for this information:
More This privacy policy was last updated on 9 Jan 2017. Our privacy policy may change from time to time. If we make any material changes to our policies, we will place a prominent notice on our website or application. If the change materially affects registered users, we will send a notice to you by email, push notification or text.
Contact Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
You can ask privacy questions or opt-out of marketing.
If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policies, please contact us.
Physical Mailing Address: Jon Schull
Founder, e-NABLE
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There is no question that bridesmaid dresses have come a long way. Hello, 1980s: you were cruel and unusual Even so, choosing the right dress for your girls can be daunting. Everyone has their own style, their own body type and their own budget. The more ladies in your wedding party, the more difficult it is to find something that works for every girl — so naturally I decided to have seven bridesmaids. Turns out I actually caught a break, because my little sister/maid of honor isn't a dress kind of gal. I suppose I could have insisted she wear one, and it probably would have been hilarious, but I'm not that mean. You're welcome, Caty! Anyway, I digress. I had six girls who needed to look fabulous on my wedding day, so I started looking for options that I thought would work for everyone.
Planning a wedding makes you acutely aware of money, and how precious it is. I knew I didn't want my girls to drop a lot of cash on something they may never wear again, so that was my main requirement when it came to looking for dresses. I've actually lucked out in every single wedding I have been in when it comes to buying a dress: My friends have either picked a very affordable option, chipped in or outright purchased the dresses I've worn, and I couldn't be more thankful. Let's face it — being in a wedding can be very expensive, so I love that my friends and I share the same views on the whole thing. We see bridesmaid dresses that are hundreds of dollars, and we're like um, no. More often than not, you're never gonna wear the thing again, so why break the bank?
Style-wise, I knew I wanted something fairly casual. No ballgowns, sequins, crystals or the like. September in Ohio is tricky. It could be 50 degrees, or it could be 90, so long or short would have been fine. Short just seemed more cute and casual, so that's what I focused on when I searched. I was fine with either pink or aqua to go with our colors and theme, but I had a feeling pink would be easier to find.
Having purchased three dresses at David's Bridal in the past, I was fairly confident that they didn't have what I was looking for, but it would have been silly not to at least look. They are popular for a reason — they have tons of styles and colors, and it's easy for people to find a store near them to order from. After browsing their website, I didn't find anything I loved, so I decided to move on.
I looked at local bridal shops to see what designers they carried, but most of them were out of the price range I had set, so that was out. I looked on Storenvy, department store websites and at local boutiques. I found shops on Instagram and while browsing on Pinterest, but nothing jumped out at me.
Throughout all this, I searched on Etsy a few times a week. There are soooo many shops and so many sellers that it's easy to spend hours at a time browsing, and you still won't get through them all. A few weeks into the process, I came across a dress I really liked. It fit the budget — $78! The style complemented the fun, casual wedding carnival we're planning and the color seemed just right. Plus, it had pockets! Every girl loves a dress with pockets.
Dress available from Etsy seller ShopApricity
After checking the shop reviews (they are fantastic), I messaged the seller to get all of the details. Since we'd be ordering without trying on, I wanted to check on the return policy, the sizing and the options for ordering a large quantity. Once I had the particulars, I emailed my ladies and asked them their thoughts.
They had some very understandable reservations. It's tough ordering something without trying it on first, but there was a detailed size chart, plus the material is stretchy and forgiving. Add in that the seller accepts returns and exchanges, and I thought it was worth the risk. My bridesmaid Adrienne (who is also my roommate), volunteered to order one first so we could see how it looked in person. She placed her order that day and the dress was at our house a few short days later. We both agreed that we loved it even more in person. The material is high-quality and it's super well-made, plus it's a style that is flattering for almost any shape. Once we had her dress in hand, we made arrangements for my other girls to try it on if they wanted to, and then it was as easy as pie ordering the rest of them. The seller even made sure to send us the longest medium dress she had in stock since one of my girls is a tall, long-legged beauty. A+ for customer service.
All in all, I am completely thrilled with the end result. We love the dress, and it was affordable for everyone. I can't wait to see all of my best gals looking fabulous on our wedding day … like for real I can't stop imagining the amazing pictures I'll have for the rest of my life. Yay!
How did you end up finding the right attire for your crew?


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Sarah Hall, Editor, #FuturePRoof, and Managing Director, Sarah Hall Consulting, talks through how the #FuturePRoof project brought together thinkers and doers in an uplifting study of the future of public relations and how the initiative has developed since publication.
#FuturePRoof was launched in November 2015. Featuring 35 leading public relations professionals, the book's aim was to remind public relations practitioners and the wider business community of the value of public relations and assert its role as a management discipline.
The reception to the book has been extremely positive. More than 1,800 downloads and 100 hard copy sales later, practitioners are still sharing their favourite chapters and feeding through their own thoughts on where the public relations industry is headed.
A series of events has been organised across the UK looking in greater depth at the opportunities and challenges faced.
From emerging areas of practice such as public relation's shift towards paid, how to map workflow and freelance business models, to more traditional topics such as measurement and evaluation, ethics and stakeholder management, #FuturePRoof has generated much food for thought.
This practical guide aimed at driving up standards has instigated debate about how our profession can better professionalise and innovate. It has also provoked discussion about how we stay fit for the future and prevent other marketing disciplines from stealing our turf.
#FuturePRoof PRCA and ICCO policy unit
Work hasn't stopped there. We've continued to build the community and challenged people to apply their expertise to the future of professional practice.
Francis Ingham invited Stephen Waddington and I to create a policy unit and work with the PRCA and ICCO to think through some of the issues raised by the #FuturePRoof project with PRCA and ICCO members.
Just four months on we will shortly be publishing our first white paper on agency business models for the PRCA and ICCO, one of three we have committed to in 2016.
In this whitepaper, due out on Tuesday 5th April, a progressive group of agencies is seeking to break with tradition. Each consultancy has carved its own niche and some are moving beyond people to charge not for time but for creative, insight, and results.
These are real pioneers and I'm grateful to everyone who contributed for their generosity in sharing their knowledge and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Many of the discussions generated by the book and this first project have identified a number of topics and issues that we'll develop in the second edition of #FuturePRoof which will be published later this year.
A call out for contributions will be made once the final book spec has been confirmed, so please do join the community if you'd like to be involved.
To be part of the conversation, join the Facebook group and follow @weareproofed on Twitter.


text: We aim to provide guests with both great drinks and good music to accompany the experience. Our furniture includes comfy couchs aswell as bar stools for a nice pub, loungey crossover. We have a free 80´s style acrade machine with over 90 games, a smoking area out the back and free Wi-FI. Most of all our friendly guests are what makes our place so special.


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BlogTalkRadio show - 9/26 Live 7PM EST or 4PM PCT
Hosts: Jyude Allbright & Kika Silva
What if it's time to wake up from the dream in which we, as a society, have been indoctrinated? What if the truth is another reality? Join Jyude and Kika for an exploration of Reality as the Buddha saw it with guest Harvey Kraft.


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BASS Christmas Fair
The BASS Christmas fair will be held on 26th November. This is the perfect place to start your Christmas shopping and to organise stocking fillers! What is more there will be scrumptious mince pies and mulled wine to enjoy too!! Look out for more details to follow. We have some great Vendors coming along to showcase their goods.
Please remember that all proceeds that BASS raises from this event will go to our charities so you will also be ensuring that you will also be helping someone in need. If you have any good quality books to donate we would be happy to sell these at the fair all profits going to charity.


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If you're a Linked Learning student living in California we have an exciting opportunity for you! We're holding a contest to win a pair of Beats by Dre headphones. Simply take a selfie in your graduation gear and post on Instagram or Twitter, using the hashtag #LinkedLearning. You can even include your school name and pathway or post-grad plans.
Pictures must be submitted on or before July 1, 2015. The winning entry will be chosen randomly on July 2, 2015, and will be contacted via the social media platform used to submit the winning entry. For full terms, conditions and contest details please see here.
Winners must fill out a photo release form prior to announcement or prize distribution. The photo release form can be found here.


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Kitchen Gadgets
I got a few new kitchen gadgets for Christmas that are super fantastic (DD).
Instant Pot Programmable Pressure Cooker
Paderno Tri - Blade Spiral Vegetable Slicer
One word for you....zoodles..thats zucchini noodles. I can't explain why I love this little gadget so much, but I do. I like my zoodles with marinara or with garlic, olive oil, and salt. I have done a few cucumber spirals. I tried sweet potatoes while some screaming kids were distracting me. I was zoodling every week and Hunter was making fun of me. Z to the Oodles...lets eat some veggie noodles. I also want to try apples or something else fun like that. This goes on sale frequently with amazon and you can get for ~$15. I don't usually like little gadgets that take up space, but this one is a keeper...for now. Keep the blades away from the kiddies. And the accident prone adults.
Labels: Food, gadgets, instant pot, paderno vegetable slicer, pressure cooker, recipes


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The Joy of Playing Blues Guitar
I love muy blues. I adore playing blues on the guitar, as the feel it produces, will make my day.
When I started playing blues, my guitar teachers introduced me directly to contemporary blues, with a lot of chord changes, and did not focus on the origin of the blues.
Due to my thirst for the true feel, I started listening to the classics as Muddy Waters, and asked myself how these original artists were able to achieve such clarity in the blues feel.
This way of approaching melody and chords has inspired and laid foundation for most contemporary music. In Level 2, all Creative Guitar students start mastering the beauty of blues and the joy it produces, as part of our daily playing . Blues guitar lessons are incorporated in level 2, 3 and 4 courses .
The Secret of Blues
I believe that there is more than a secret in blues guitar playing; there is a realm of delicate harmonic tension balance that we must caress to keep the magic flowing.
Blues is like a cloud of sound that floats on top of our chords. Blues comes alive when we create the contrast between the blues sound and the harmony of our tune.
The first step we must take, to feel this sound cloud, is to understand what key we are in, or the tonal center of our song. The first chord of our blues will define our tonal center. If our first chord is a G, then we can assume that we are playing a major blues in G.
Note: I assume you are aware of the blues progressions and the blues scale.
Have you ever felt that when you move away from the G chord, you need to play something else that you cannot find?
Have you ever felt that the blues cloud, the blues feel ,disappears as you play other chords?
If you do not have this feeling, then I must assume you are playing the blues correctly. However, if you do, then consider that the more you move away from the G chord, the more you will need to play the blues sound, and the less you will need to play the other chords completely.
How do we keep the feel
If you are loosing the G blues sound, when you play the C chord, then only play the root and add more G blues sound to your playing. In the same manner, when you play the D chord, avoid playing the full chord and add more blues sound to it. ( the G Blues )
In all blues styles, you will hear that the magic occurs when we contrast the sound of the chord with the tonal center blues scale.
At the Creative Guitar School, in your blues guitar lessons, I will guide you through the different blues styes and how the relationship of harmony- melody and blues scales, interact to achieve the desired sound.
Can I play the blues sound over any chord progression ?
Yes. For example; if your song is in C , you can play the C blues scale over any chord, and if done right, it will work.
As I mentioned, blues does form part of most contemporary music, we enjoy in our daily lives. In your guitar lessons, I would strongly suggest learning more of this style, as it will give you a natural advantage in achieving a unique sound in your playing. Blues is a colour that creates a special contrast, that can add harmonic and melodic richness to your playing
What to learn ?
In terms of knowledge, in your blues guitar lessons, you will learn how to define the rhythm guitar or the lead solo guitar, in various keys, 8 or 12 bar progressions, and styles.
You will also learn, in your blues guitar lessons, where to find the notes that sound blues all over the guitar neck; in various keys. And how to play a solo that creates contrast between the chords and the blues.
You will learn to create phrases, based upon logical melodic questions and answers; call and response.
You will learn to talk with authentic blues phrases; by acquiring vocabulary used by the classics.
You will learn the major pentatonic scales of all chords, the mixolydian scale, major minor arpeggios, and all harmonic- melodic tensions available.
In summary, a whole set of musical tools, to tap into , to give you unlimited resources for all your creative needs.
Your ideas will not stop popping up, and soon you will be able to find them and play them on the guitar.
As a professional session guitarist, I also heavily rely on these skills, so to be able to develop diversity and quickly tap into the different musical genres I am asked to play on .
I do not recommend, a beginner guitarist, should start off only with blues guitar lessons. All guitar students need to have developed a sense of rhythm, harmony, melody and technique, before immersing themselves in this beautiful language.
That is why, at the Creative Guitar School, students must complete level one of their learning, before moving into this style. You need a good sense of rhythm , melody and harmony to enjoy the beauty of blues.
Extended listening
These are some of my favourite blues players I listen to. The list will take you through a variety of styles in this musical language.
Magic Sam Style Blues Son House, Muddy Waters, and and John Lee Hooker Styles
Elizabeth Cotton,, Tampa Red, Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal, Corey Harris, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Lightnin Hopkins, Tommy Johnson, , Tampa Red, Blind Lemon Jefferson, BB King
School Concert
Students love to perform at our frequent concerts. I also enjoy to see how students work together, play together, and develop their musical expertise; socially. It is fun , engaging and above all very satisfying.
Music requires discipline in our learning. All my guitar courses are based on structured learning. There fore, in order to complete the guitar courses, to your own satisfaction, please allocate 20 minutes every day, during 10 weeks, for all your guitar exercises.
Group effort
All guitar courses, that develop the basic level of learning, require that the student commits to a daily practice routine so as to keep up with the rest of the group courses,
Groups also get together outside class hours ,to help each other in their musical adventure and to prepare for the concerts.
I hope to see you at one of our next Guitar Concerts . Sign up to get the latest news on all our events , courses and my specialized Melbourne Concerts.


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"When will the flippin Cherry Blossoms ever bloom?!"
I asked the friendly National Park Service ranger the question we have been all thinking. This year's persistent winter and tardy spring have us all wondering if the blossoms will ever show up. Last year this time, the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom.
As the park service explains, we are extremely close. When I spoke with one of the rangers on March 27, the indicator tree was at Stage 3, Puffy white.
What does that mean?
The park service charts Cherry Blossom blooming in four stages:
Stage 1 - Florets visible - about 16 - 21 days from peak bloom.
Stage 2 - Peduncle elongation - or when you just begin to see the flowers peeking through the crown of the bud. This is usually six to 10 days from peak bloom.
Stage 3 - Puffy white - They are ready to explode, usually four to six days from peak bloom.
Stage 4 - Full bloom - Grab your camera. This won't last long.
The peak bloom date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the Yoshino Cherry tree blossoms are open.
The park service rangers around the Tidal Basin keep an eye on their indicator tree. This is a tree near the Jefferson Memorial that usually blooms first and gives the rangers a good idea when the rest of the cherry trees are a few days from full bloom.
On March 27, the indicator tree was at the puffy white stage, so rangers still expect peak bloom around the Tidal Basin to happen April 3 - 6.
"But when will we have enough flowers to take great pictures?" I asked. That's what we really care about, right?
We could have as much as 30 - 40 percent of the flowers open by this weekend, if the weather cooperates, she estimates. That should begin to create some beautiful scenes around the basin.
Let's keep our fingers crossed for warm weather.
Get ready to photograph the Cherry Blossoms with my new Cherry Blossom Photo Guide. Download yours now.


text: NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. VRX, +0.08% said Thursday it has filed an official and detailed complaint with the Canadian regulator, Autorite des Marches Financiers, about statements made by Allergan Inc. AGN, +0.33% regarding Valeant's business. Valeant, which has made an unsolicited $53 billion bid for Allergan, has already filed a similar complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In a release dated July 21, Valeant said Allergan had falsely alleged that pharmaceutical sales at Valeant's Bausch + Lomb unit were stagnant or declining. Valeant took an initial complaint to the U.S. and Canadian regulators. "Despite this, Allergan responded that they stood by their comments," Valeant Chief Executive J. Michael Pearson said in a statement. "This continued disregard for the facts and the harm it has caused Valeant shareholders underscores the importance of the complaints we have made with the AMF and SEC." Shares of both companies were not yet active in premarket trade.


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Pet-friendly, spacious, luxurious & affordable accommodations at the foot of Blue Mountain; bring every family member - even the four-legged ones.
Traveling to the Blue Mountain area with your pets? We've got you covered! At the Lodges at Blue Mountain, we know that your four-legged furry companions are more than just pets; they're part of your family, which is why we welcome pets to enjoy a getaway with you in our accommodations. The Blue Mountain/Collingwood area is an outdoor wonderland that offers a vast amount of outdoor activities, scenic trails and natural beauty that your family and pet will love exploring.
Pet Policies
While we look forward to hosting you and your pet during your stay, we do have a few simple pet policies to ensure an enjoyable stay for all of our Blue Mountain Lodges guests. Uphold our high level of sanitation by cleaning up after your pet, including pet hair. Respect your neighboring guests by maintaining quite noise levels and keeping your pet on a leash when you leave your Chalet or Condo. There is a one-time $25 pet charge, which covers extra cleaning we will need to perform in order to ensure our next guests are not affected by pet odors or hair. We ask that you notify our staff prior to arrival, preferably at time of booking, that a pet will joining you as not all of our rooms are pet friendly.
Pet-Friendly Activities
Whether your pet loves playing in the snow during winter or frolicking through a fresh field in spring, there are countless pet friendly activities near the Blue Mountain Lodges. No matter what time of year you stay with us we recommend that your family and furry companion discover the beautiful Collingwood scenery right outside your front door. If you want to let your dog roam free outside, head over to Pawplar Park "Dog Town" located in Collingwood, Ontario, located between Hurontario Street & Raglan Street.


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You know how everyone looks like their pet? Well, Babo looks just like his pet peeve! BIRDS! Babo can?t stand birds! They always eat the crumbs his cookies leave behind! Well, too bad because one bird has taken a liking to Babo and now likes to call him mommy. Sounds serious, right? And Babo doesn?t have a mean bone in his body. So now Babo?s Bird is... .. Babo?s bird. Luckily Babo doesn?t have shoulders either. Have any cookie crumbs? Measures approximately 4inches


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District 3: Corey Johnson's Secret Life/
The race to succeed Christine Quinn in the 3rd Council District, covering the west side of Manhattan roughly from Canal Street to Central Park, is shaping up to be a battle between 2009 Council contender Yetta Kurland and Community Board 4 Chair Corey Johnson.
Yetta Kurland has a civil rights law practice and, until recently, her own radio talk show. She incurred the undying enmity of CM Quinn in 2009 when she ran against her in the primary and, to the Speaker's embarrassment, won more than 30% of the vote. Coupled with Kurland's vociferous opposition to the Quinn-approved closing of St. Vincent's Hospital, Christine Quinn initiated a vendetta against Kurland, waging a virtual "Anybody but Yetta" campaign that has worked for the benefit of her rival, Corey Johnson, "the youngest" chair of a community board. Quinn's influence has won Johnson the support of the local clubs, local political endorsements and some labor backing.
Johnson boasts a long resume of accomplishment. To wit:
Corey is also a Director on the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, a Member of the Hudson Yards Community Advisory Committee, a Member of the Moynihan Station Community Advisory Committee, a Member of the Javits Center Community Advisory Committee, a Member of the Hudson River Park Strategic Planning Task Force, a Member of the Friends of the Hudson River Park Trusts Neighborhood Improvement District Steering Committee, a Board Member of Save Chelsea, a Member of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations, a Member of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, a Member of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, and a Member of the 100/200 West 15th Street Block Association.
What is odd about this extensive list of activities is the absence of any positions that offer remuneration, i.e. money. Nowhere on his campaign material, nor in his interviews, nor upon repeated questioning to his campaign manager will the Corey 2013 machine explain the most primary question we all have about anyone we meet: What does he do for a living?
This is not an idle question. Poke around on candidate websites for a little while and you will have no trouble figuring out how these people make money. In fact, the subject is usually foregrounded, because in New York City politics it is important to have some kind of explanation for how you pay the rent, before other people reach their own conclusions. So the wall of community service cited above becomes a screen: an act of misdirection that we are demanded to accept. The guy is hiding something.
What it turns out he is covering up and scrubbing from his Internet presence is his work as Director of Governmental Relations and Community Affairs for GFI Development Company, beginning in July 2008. GFI Development is the real estate development branch of GFI Group, which according to the company website "has been at the forefront of credit derivative brokerage services, leadership that we are now leveraging to help establish an active, liquid Exotic Credit Derivative market."
Exotic credit derivatives, for those among us with short memories, are those quaint financial instruments that enable banks to make massive bets on the failure of loans, without having to actually own any of the underlying debt. Credit derivatives caused a minor kerfuffle in the markets in late 2008. GFI Group "handled as much as 40 percent of the credit-derivatives trades between the world's banks in 2007," according to Bloomberg.
Well, Corey Johnson had nothing to do with any of that, of course…he worked for the real estate development arm of GFI. And real estate development firms are wholesome, salubrious entities. Which must be why after I asked Johnson's campaign manger about his work there, his speaker bio at the Gay Center website was scrubbed. (Compare here and here.) And his LinkedIn profile was closed.
GFI Development buys old buildings and turns them into hotels, condominiums and the like. Corey Johnson's job was to facilitate the political side of things, as we see in this June 2009 article detailing his advocacy on behalf of a GFI development before Community Board 2 in Brooklyn.
In 2008, around when they hired Corey to be their front man in New York City, GFI Development bought the old Breslin Hotel, on 29th Street, which was an SRO. Their efforts to evict or buy out the existing tenants led to a series of court battles, but eventually the Breslin gave way to the trendy Ace Hotel. Corey Johnson had his birthday party there when it opened in 2010, and was so delighted that he even wore a tiara, according to this record of the evening.
At the time of the Ace Hotel's opening, Corey Johnson, top lobbyist and community affairs director for GFI Development, was also Vice-Chair of Community Board 4 and Co-Chair of the CB4 Land Use Committee. Is this a conflict of interest? Well, it is true that the Ace Hotel at 29th and Broadway is two blocks east of CB4's eastern boundary, so maybe not, technically. But it clearly isn't something Corey Johnson is proud of, or else he would mention it at least once, wouldn't he?
Nor, it is fair to say, is Corey proud of his "community affairs" role in the cleansing of the tenants of the Breslin hotel. Charges of mismanagement of the hotel once GFI bought it abound. Water turned off, heat turned off, neglect of upkeep: all the usual things that happen when a developer wants to gut a property and redo it for a better class of tenant. We know he isn't proud of it because he doesn't talk about it. Nor will he specify when he left the company, which seems to have happened in 2011 at some point.
It is easy to let politicians say whatever pretty things they want to about themselves and their good works. Corey Johnson cleans up well, but that doesn't mean he isn't dirty.


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I say old since it has been over a week since my last post, but I have been moving myself into my new off-campus college apartment (Woo!). So this will have to be a short post as well, since there is still so much to do. But I couldn't leave you without your Weekly Sweet Escape. A bit more to the point than usual, but here is a little collection of DIY Projects I have found about making your own designer cake/cupcake stands. Each project is super cost-effective, and results in a fabulous stand that is both functional and fashionable. I know, more alliteration. I'm sorry I'm sorry I am working on it ;)
1. CensationalGirl
2. Decorganize Crafts (this was the most intriguing - using stove top burners!)
4. Shelterness
As Always - hope you enjoyed this week's short, but nonetheless sweet escape. Keep an eye out for a post on Red Velvet Brownies later this week! :D


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Cat Porter's debut album The Long Haul is available for download on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby! Physical copies are currently sold out.
About Cat
Cat Porter was born on a farm in Lexington, Kentucky, but now resides in the rural outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama. She danced with both the Nashville Ballet and the Alabama Ballet before moving on to other aspirations.
Classically trained in piano, Cat recently released her debut album, The Long Haul. A collection of traditional and contemporary electronic instruments, her premiere work evokes various moods through a range of musical styles, including cinematic and ambient. It emulates the journey of life, not just for humans, but for all living creatures.
Cat began working in collaboration with Hunter Nichols in the fall of 2010 and is currently scoring his feature length documentary, River Dreams. As well as producing music, Cat enjoys writing and creating visual artwork through a variety of mediums.
Cat loves to produce music and creates dozens of original songs a year. In addition to scoring her first feature film, she produces music freelance for other clients, like The Nature Conservancy. If you have any music needs, Cat would love to help you out.


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New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram will be in attendance for the team's mandatory minicamp next month, coach Sean Payton told reporters on Thursday.
Ingram has failed to show for organized team activities this week as he enters the final season of his four-year, $16 million contract he signed in 2015.
"He won't miss the mandatory minicamp," Payton said, which is scheduled for June 12-14. "He's indicated he'll be here for that."
The Saints would like to get Ingram some on-field work ahead of the start of the regular season, when he will serve a four-game suspension for violating the league policy for performance-enhancing substances. The former Heisman Trophy winner will be eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on Monday, Oct. 1.
Ingram was selected to his second Pro Bowl after rushing for career highs in yards (1,124) and touchdowns (12). He also caught 58 passes for 416 yards.
The 28-year-old Ingram has rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and has registered 154 receptions over the past three seasons, including a career-high 58 in 2017.
New Orleans has a capable replacement in electrifying Alvin Kamara, who was named the NFL Rookie of the Year last season.
Kamara rushed for 728 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and also amassed 81 receptions for five more scores in his rookie campaign.
New Orleans' ground game ranked fifth in the NFL with an average of 129.4 yards last season while leading the league with 23 rushing touchdowns and an average of 4.7 yards per carry.
Ingram has started 58 of 94 games since the Saints drafted him in the first round in 2011. He has rushed for 5,362 yards and 44 touchdowns while adding 207 catches and four more scores.


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By Steve Holland - Analysis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Far more than anything else, President Barack Obama's first 100 days have been marked by an ideological shift to traditional Democratic policies in tackling the U.S. recession.
On foreign policy, Obama has pushed for a more accommodating U.S. diplomacy. He has worked to reduce U.S. troops in Iraq and beef up forces in Afghanistan. Ahead lie tests from the Taliban's rise in nuclear-armed Pakistan, and the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.
Inheriting the worst economic crisis in decades, Obama and many Democrats are advocating big spending increases on healthcare, education and green technology, calling them investments needed to rebuild the economy.
In so doing, he has set the United States on a path toward reversing eight years of the Bush administration's conservative policies.
"Most of all, I want every American to know that each action we take and each policy we pursue is driven by a larger vision of America's future — a future where sustained economic growth creates good jobs and rising incomes," Obama said in a recent economic speech.
In sum, said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Obama is leading "the most liberal administration we've ever had in terms of what he's trying to do — with extraordinarily ambitious goals."
How much of his agenda he will be able to navigate through the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress remains an open question, because even some Democrats fret at the costs — for starters, a record $3.55 trillion budget for fiscal 2010.
"Because of the Bush administration's collapse at the end due to the financial situation, he's got a lot of leeway right now in terms of what he can propose. It remains to be seen what he's going to get out of this," Black said.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama is pleased with his achievements, "understanding that the American people are certainly not going to grade his administration or our efforts to help turn our economy around and make our people safe just by the actions of the first 95 days."
Obama has held opposition Republicans at bay but battles lie ahead. They are still hoping Americans will take a fresh look at his spending plans and determine there is no way he can pay for them all without breaking his pledge not to tax the middle class.
"His Achilles' heel is the spending and that's what ultimately will catch up with him," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. "We're going to be saddled with trillions of dollars in debt and further tax increases staring at us around the corner."
His decision to open the door to the possibility of criminal prosecutions for Bush-era officials whose legal analyses sanctioned harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects could lead to a Washington fixation on the past and distract from his agenda.
Whatever the case, Obama is enjoying a job approval rating of more than 60 percent and has thrived in the limelight of a 24/7 news cycle.
Many Americans have been riveted by all things Obama — from his new Portuguese water dog, to how often he goes out to dinner, to the planting of a vegetable garden on the White House lawn by his wife, Michelle, whose common-sense style of dress has been dissected and approved by fashion experts.
"His placid demeanor helped soothe the country as he took its reins in the midst of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression," wrote Howard Fineman of Newsweek magazine.
Pollster John Zogby said that while Obama remains personally popular, his policies are less so.
For example, Americans are disenchanted with bank bailouts begun in the Bush administration and support for the stimulus package is mixed.
"So you really can't say that America approves of big-spending liberalism," Zogby said. "But you can say that a majority likes him and are willing to believe him."
Abroad, Obama has worked to patch up ties with traditional allies strained by President George W. Bush's Iraq war, promised to try to rid the world of nuclear weapons, spoken of a thaw with communist Cuba, and shaken hands with Venezuela's Bush-bashing president, Hugo Chavez.
At a news conference in Trinidad and Tobago, he jokingly referred to his foreign policy as "Obama-ism" but in a more serious vein, he said that problems cannot be solved by just one country.
"And I think if you start with that approach, then you are inclined to listen and not just talk," he said.
Republican critics, on the other hand, accused Obama of apologizing for American actions.
"The leader of the free world has been a timid advocate of freedom at best," wrote former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in an article for National Review.
Editing by Eric Walsh


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There are these memes that calls out on the Obama Administration as an Administration that doesn't care about the poor or the "Black poor" and Obama is not fighting enough to reduce poverty to help low income Americans. I just don't buy it. It seems like a Rovian Strategy - if you continue to repeat it, it will stick and destroy. I ain't having that so I will highlight what this Administration is doing to fighting poverty. According to Census Bureau, one in seven Americans household(44 million) are now living at poverty level, living at $22K or less a year. This makes the increase in poverty rate during the Obama Administration for 2009 from 13.2% to 14.3%, an increase of almost 4 million people living in poverty. Assuming there are 2.55 people in a household, it means the lose of 1.57 million jobs out of the 5 million lost during 2009 has most likely contributed to the increased level of people living in poverty. As of 2009, 26% of African Americans, 25% of Hispanics, 12% of Whites and 13% of Asians are living at poverty level. Census also reports that, the child poverty rate and the number in poverty increased by 2.7 percentage points and 2.1 million between 2007 and 2009. So, what are some of the notable things President Obama has been doing to tackle Poverty since there seems to be a concerted effort in some blogs to undermine what has and is being done but rather more attention is being given to the assertion - Obama does not care for the poor meme - by some who continue to misinform because either they don't know the efforts or are intellectually dishonest and disregarding the truth. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Obama Administration has made a broad and significant investments to help reduce and assist people that have become victims of the increased poverty made worse by economic crisis. 1) A $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. 2) A $1 billion in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) that is intended to revitalize low-income communities via "Job training and placement assistance", "Financial literacy programs", et al, to helping families become self-sufficient. 3) A $2 billion in new Neighborhood Stabilization Funds that will allow ailing neighborhoods be kept maintained. 4) A $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention Funds to keep people in their homes and prevent homelessness. 5) A $5 billion increase for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low income families save on their residential energy expenditures by making their homes more energy efficient. 6) A $4 Billion program, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, "authorizes funding for federal school meal and child nutrition programs and increases access to healthy food for low-income children." 7) As part of the HCR bill, subsidies will be available to the uninsured and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level($14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four). 8) Estabilished Open Doors to end the 640,000 men, women and children who are homeless in America by 2020. 9) Increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards so that funds are available to those with less access to have opportunity. 10) Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing. 11) Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual). 12) Providing assistance to low-income workers through the Earned Income Tax Credit giving millions of working families the break they need. 13) Education being the way out of Poverty, kicked off the "Race to the Top", a $4.3 billion program, that rewards via grants to States that meet a few key benchmarks for reform, and states that outperform the rest. These are just a few of what are notable actions that have been taken by this Administration. The commitment of this Administration to fighting poverty can not be mistaken even under the circumstances we live in today, which is a dismal economy that is trying to catch its life line back in the game. Barbara Blum, former President, MDRC and former Commissioner, New York State Department of Social Services notes about the approach this President has taken in the article, Obama's Quiet Campaign to Fight Poverty:
This disturbing increase [in poverty level] reflects the ongoing fallout of the economic downturn. But the fact is that the statistics would have been worse had it not been for a concerted effort by the Obama administration to ease poverty—an effort that deserves more attention. This quiet campaign for change has three key planks: building human capital, enforcing wage and hour standards, and providing income-enhancing benefits. //Snip Building a better-educated and stronger workforce is the goal of such initiatives as the "Race to the Top" K-12 education reform effort and the significant federal investment in the nation's community college system. The overhaul of the student financial aid system and implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill are key steps toward reaching the President's call for Americans to obtain at least one year of college or vocational training—not only for themselves, but for the good of the country's economy. At the Labor Department, Secretary Hilda Solis has made enforcement of wage and hour laws a priority, recognizing that many employers fail to follow them, which can cost a typical low-wage worker an estimated $2,500 in annual earnings, according to the Interfaith Justice Center. Recent enforcement actions in the poultry and health care sectors have helped thousands of low-wage workers recoup rightfully-earned income. And the administration is working to implement many of the recommendations of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to remove barriers that prevent low-income families from obtaining critical benefits, including SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps), child nutrition subsidies, and the Earned Income Tax Credit—economic supports that can be critical to a family's economic survival.In a nutshell, what Ms.Blum is saying is that there is a lot that is being done and in fact she notes that this administration has done by far more in "easing poverty" than any administration since the mid-1960s. Is there more that ought to be done? Hell yes! There is more to be done in many areas to improve and create economical opportunity for Americans living in poverty and then some. However, the effort to date by this Administration while it may not fix poverty in its entirety, it speaks loud to the efforts that it is doing its best for low income Americans under the current economical conditions. So, next time when critics go spreading lies and misinformation about how this Administration is lacking commitment on poverty issues, smack them with the truth and may be if they have the audacity to hear or see the truth, they will recognize the effort being put. PS: No one is contesting here that there needs to be a tax increase on the rich and hopefully when the current extension expires in two years, we will see that increase. Just FYI! ================================================================= Just wanted to share one picture that says what I want to say:
A woman holds up signs of support as US President Barack Obama's motorcade drives past near his vacation home in Kailua, Hawaii, December 31, 2010. Obama is spending the last days of the year vacationing with his family in Hawaii. (Getty Images)
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Don't train additional SCVs before purchasing Han's contract in the "Cutthroat" mission on hard difficulty.
How to Earn the Achievement[edit]
For this Achievement you should buy all the marine and medic upgrades from the Armory console. Basically, you want to take a group of marines and medics around to grab as many mineral pickups as you can. You also will need a force to defend your base, but defense will also heavily rely on the vultures and spider mines.
When you begin, don't make an add-on with the barracks. Make two medics, and the constantly make marines. Add medics as you feel you need, but keep in mind that if you focus fire stemmed marines, lots of medics shouldn't be needed. Eventually you want to make a reactor with the factory and swap your barracks onto that. Don't rally new units directly to your attack group. Reinforce your attack group, but keep some marines and medics at home. Lay mines a fair distance away from your base, and watch the mini-map. Your mines will spot for approaching enemies that you must prepare for.
Just move around the map, but avoid the command centers until you have a sizable force. Use a couple of vultures to kill off the command centers after your marine force has cleared out the enemies form around them. Avoid the top middle-right, and avoid pushing too far to the left. Taking ground in the middle is important, because attacking forces often attack from there, and you need to safely place spider mines there.
Attack every group of enemies along the way, and pick up the scraps on the sides. Remember to stem your marines before every engagement and micro quickly to keep marines alive. Focus fire is very important, because medics obviously heal much slower than three to four marines doing damage. You want to reduce incoming damage quickly, so you have to reduce the numbers. Select small groups of three to four marines to kill the medics quickly so that they don't get to heal too much.
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The Inbetweeners 2 (2014) has won the movie voting! Vote for the next movie now https://warzone.gg/movievoting
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On June 25, Max's Best Homemade Ice Cream (2416 Wisconsin Ave.) will donate 50 percent of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society in honor of the late Marsha Keshani, wife of shop owner Max and mom of daughter Neda. "Next Monday will be one year that my dear beautiful mother has left us," Neda wrote in a message posted to the Glover Park Yahoo newsgroup. "We want to honor her and her spirit that still and will always remain with us, the community, her family and friends."
UPDATE: "Had to stop by today to get an official report from Max," our correspondent Laurie England wrote on Tuesday, June 26. "Not only was Monday his best Monday ever but best day ever! Neighbors even wrote checks to Max and he was still receiving them today. Plus there was a constant line of customers still coming in today!"


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Jay-Z on Oprah's Master Class
On January 1, 2011 Oprah Winfrey premiered her new television network OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). During OWN's premiere, Oprah featured Jay-Z on the first episode of her series, Oprah Presents Master Class. I found this episode of Oprah Presents Master Class with Jay-Z very powerful and educational. Jay-z, arguably the most successful rapper in Hip Hop's history, shares insights and lessons learned from his experiences growing up and from his involvement in Hip Hop and the business world. Jay-Z has numerous things to teach younger and older generations. I am sure that you will find the following videos highly informative and thought provoking. I hope you get as much from these videos as I did. As always, feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment, posting this to your Facebook wall or tweeting it to your followers on Twitter.
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