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Bettie Bearden Pardee: Private Newport
Former client
In 2015 I was hired to help Bettie Bearden Pardee with her networking and Social Media efforts. The author of Private Newport and Living Newport, garden furniture designer, national lecturer, and entertaining expert, sought me out to help launch her social media campaign. Under my guidance we launched a successful social media campaign on Facebook and Pinterest in order to promote her then newly released book, Private Newport. We also developed a plan to execute and promote her website and blog of the same name. I worked closely with her Public Relations team to give Bettie the maximum exposure, to promote her book tours, speaking engagements and the like. During my year with Bettie Pardee and her team I formulated many invaluable connections to other leaders of industry and lifestyle personalities. Through these efforts and connections Bettie partnered up with Ronda Carman, (author of Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living, as well as lifestyle specialist, and founder of Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics) and will be featured in Ronda's upcoming book. Under my guidance Bettie's social media following grew exponentially and when our partnership was over she was well poised to maintain steady and continued growth.


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Havering Sixth Form College
Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 3TB
Tel: 01708 514400
Email: email@example.com
Library Assistant
We are keen to appoint a Library Assistant to join our busy College Library team.
Havering Sixth Form College is one of the largest providers of 16-19 education in London. We have over 2700 full time students and offer over 50 A level subjects and a wide range of vocational courses at all levels. We are a friendly, supportive and high achieving College with consistently good success rates.
We aim to offer a genuine 21st century learning environment for young people.
The College aims to be an outstanding provider of full time education for 16-19 year olds, embracing diversity and creating excellent opportunities for all. Staff and students will participate fully in Teaching and Learning to maximise their collective potential and promote individual achievement at the highest level.
For a job description and application form please click on the link:
Closing date: Monday 17th September 2018
This college welcomes applications from suitably skilled individuals irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexuality.

subset: commoncrawl


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Al Ain: Researchers in the UAE have found a genetic solution to boost plants' resistance against a major fungal disease and reduce dependence on environmentally harmful pesticides.
These findings are the result of a research project carried out by Suad Ajeb, an MSc student at the UAE University (UAEU), and have recently been published in Molecular Plant Pathology — an international scientific journal. The research was supervised by Dr Synan Abu Qamar, Assistant Professor at the UAEU's Department of Biology.
A UAEU spokesperson said plants fight to survive environmental stresses, including plant pathogens.
"Botrytis cinerea is considered the second most important fungal pathogen that causes diseases in a wide range of crops and negatively affects the agribusiness," he said.
Plants use cell walls as a barrier against pathogen attack. The spokesperson said that the focus of researchers' concern had been expansins, the agents responsible for loosening the cell wall and giving it elasticity.
With the increasing call by the public to limit chemical use on plants and the ineffectiveness of fungicides due to resistance developed by Botrytis cinerea, Dr Abu Qamar's research team began studying genetic resistance to provide a sustainable alternative to chemical control.
The team tried to understand the mechanisms that control plant defence to a sum of biotic and abiotic stresses and found removing the Expansin-like A2 gene (also known as EXLA2 mutation) reduced the susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea in a plant.
Dr Abu Qamar said the team has found that the EXLA2 mutant is not only resistant to Botrytis cinerea, but also to another economic threat, the fungus Alternaria brassicicola.
"So far, the laboratory has generated several mutations in genes for a highly effective solution against this nasty fungus," he said.
"We showed that the EXLA2 mutant also showed enhanced sensitivity towards increased salt and cold, and this sensitivity required a functional abscisic acid pathway," he added.


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A few weeks ago I hiked Half Dome with my parents and sister. If you're unfamiliar with Half Dome, it's a huge granite dome that rises almost 5,000 feet over the main valley in Yosemite National Park. It's a challenging 16 mile round trip hike that requires being in a good shape and preparation, but isn't beyond the realm of possibility for regular people.
We started at 5:30 AM from Upper Pines campground, which was about a 15 minute walk from the trailhead. Next time, I'd try to start at 3:30 or 4. It's not that the trails are too busy... it's just a long day ahead of you and you don't want to be pushing sunset at the end of the day. The cabled section near the summit is busy pretty much every day from 10 AM to 4 PM, so unless you start really early (3ish or earlier), there will probably some sort of wait and crowd near the top, but more on that later.
The good thing about starting before sunrise is that early morning hiking seems to pass by quickly. When you can't see past your headlamp's shine you focus on putting one foot in front of the other. We made good, quick progress before sunrise as a result.
Oh yeah, before I go any further... what are those things on my feet, you ask? And yes, lots of people asked. For the past five years I've worn Chacos for pretty much any outdoor activity I've done with the exception of running, including whitewater rafting, hiking, and canyoneering. The longest hike was probably 10 or 12 miles, so I was a little concerned about 16... but not too worried.
After my dad asked me about a hundred times about wearing open toe shoes the night before -- and even offered (insisted) I wear the extra pair of hiking shoes he brought -- I have to admit, I was wondering if I was pushing past the suggested Chacos threshold. With 1 bar of Edge service I googled "Hike Half Dome in Chacos" from the lodge, found nothing, and decided if I'd hiked Mt. Timpanogos with no issues I should be fine. I started the hike with a pair of socks on just to be on the safe side and took them off after two hours.
About two-thirds the way up, after crossing paths with well over a hundred other hikers, and to my dad's surprise, we encountered a second Chacos-wearer. In her mid-fifties and sporting a full-length hiking skirt, she caught up to us as we were paused for a rest. She commented that she'd been following my tracks for a while, searching for her Chacos mate. While I can't say I recognize Chacos footprints myself, I'm very impressed. Respect, Chacos lady, respect.
The final ascent to Half Dome's summit includes a 400 foot stretch of metal cables, at as much as a 45 degree angle. The cables were initially put in place almost a hundred years ago and they allow anyone with a good pair of gloves to ascend relatively safely. Injuries and death have occurred, but they are uncommon. The cables make for a interesting, almost welcoming challenge after propelling yourself 8 miles straight uphill with your legs.
As we were hiking down a wildfire broke out to the northwest of the summit. A few helicopters and half a dozen planes showed up, surveyed the scene, and dropped powdery red fire-retardant.
There are two main trails you can take to Half Dome. The John Muir trail is a bit longer, but less strenuous, while the Myst trail is shorter but much steeper (and full of hundreds of huge steps). We took the John Muir Trail up and the Mist Trail down. We hustled down the mountain and got back to camp right at dusk.
Feet-wise, the Chacos did the job, and some. They had excellent grip on sub dome's and Half Dome's granite surfaces, and got me home 100% blister free. If you're questioning whether your Chacos can handle Half Dome, the answer is yes... so long as your feet are used to the straps and you've done a few shorter hikes with them before. As far as who fared better on the mountain between my old man and me, I'll put it this way. One of us never had to stop to change socks. One of us made it up and down without blisters. It's the same one.


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Dear Soul on the Other Side of the Screen,
Have you heard the quote by Khalil Gibran? He says, "Work is Love Made Visible." I took the liberty of adding one word to the beginning as inspiration for our Qoya retreat last week. The word is sacred, because for me, doing my sacred work is how I make love visible, in my world and the world.
Last week, I led a retreat in the redwoods of Santa Cruz, California at the new Multiversity 1440 retreat center where we spent one entire day dancing our relationship to each word in the morning, bringing it into ritual in the afternoon and relaxing into it each evening.
I have been traveling around the world deeply listening to women in the most vulnerable and empowered points of their journey and heard a similar theme in each woman's story. The desire to be of service, to actively participate in this world that is re-birthing itself. For those who feel the strongest and most secure in themselves, they are grounded by honoring their call to create what they feel most inspired to birth in this world.
The Bhagavad Gita speaks of the importance of doing your work without attachment to reward or recognition. It's an amazing thing to take your star seat and serve humanity, love, and your true Self when you recognize that the process of creation gives you access to a place of personal fulfillment that no external affirmation can.
After many human beings have offered their lives to the age old experiment, modern awareness confirms, "Going against yourself, your heart, your dreams, and your truth isn't what it's cracked up to be." Inevitably, we all return to our center, our truth, our heart. Every human life has its dramatic twists and turns along the way. Without judgment but with awareness, notice where you are today.
There are many ways that we do our sacred work. For some, it is the way they garden or parent. For others, it is their business, their service work, their art ,or the way they walk through an airport, offering a loving presence in a chaotic world.
The most important thing is that each human heart is aware of how it offers its work as a way to make love visible.
As the full moon comes into its most visible expression, perhaps you make also be inspired to do the same. More than any other time this month. More than any other time this year. Beyond your self-imposed limitations:
Are you willing to emerge in your own fullness?
Our resident Qoya astrologer Virginia Rosenberg offers how to merge with the energy that is here and now:
The Full Moon in Aquarius on August 7 (2:11pm EST) is a partial lunar eclipse. Eclipses are like reset buttons. The luminaries (Sun and Moon) straddle the lunar nodes of fate. The conscious and unconscious elements of our Self feel a magnetic pull towards destiny. Do you feel the call to create? You are a creator. Sometimes, before embarking on creative journeys we long to take, we ask ourselves, "But who am I to make this? Am I enough?" Creation takes courage. It requires honest self love. Be proud of yourself and your adorations. This confidence will fuel the fire needed for spirit to move through you. Creation comes not from ego. Wield makings that benefit humanity. Ultimately, it is spirit's creation. Your mission is to feel your heart and follow its yearnings. This moon has momentum. Don't just dream it. Be it. Quell frustration, anger, or impatience with clear, direct action. Get physical. Make moves. How to know what action to take? How to know which way to go? Let your heart lead and body follow. The path of the heart is not always linear or logical. But it is honest. Trust it anyway. Harness your special love light within — a unique shade, tint, and hue. Store and cultivate it until it radiates out, making a prismatic rainbow interwoven with the human community. In our uniqueness and our interconnected radiance, we make and sustain a more loving world.
Like Virginia says above, "Don't just dream it. Be it."
With this free movement ritual on Doing Your Sacred Work, practice your ability to step into being embodied, present, awake and aware of the love that you are and your commitment to make that love visible in this world.
Free Sacred Work Chapter of Qoya the Book. I wrote an entire chapter in my book on doing your sacred work. Click here to check it out for free!
A Call to Create Online Course. As an accompaniment to the Qoya book, I created an online course to help you apply Qoya movements, rituals, pilgrimages, and community activities (and a whole lot more!) to a creative project. If you're feeling the call to birth something new into the world, whether a book, a business, a baby, or a new personal practice, click here to answer the call.
Collective Retreat 2018: Embody Your Dreams. I'm happy to announce our next Collective Retreat in Costa Rica in 2018. Our retreat theme, Embody Your Dreams, synchronistically matches the energy of this moon! It's an invitation to expand your ability to create — not only to dream, but to give those dreams embodiment. Now through October 1st, enjoy an Early Bird discount of $250 off tuition with the code EARLYBIRD. Click here to learn more and register.
I truly believe that the instructions for this time are best received through the body and heart. It requires a daily practice to stay grounded and rooted in your deeper knowing.
While there are many things I may doubt in my life from time to time, Qoya is not one of them. I feel deeply blessed and grateful for you! Without people who come to class, read the newsletters, or do the teacher trainings, I'm not able to step into the call I have to create. While I really enjoy dancing alone in my living room (as you can see in so many videos :) I receive the most fulfillment through our dance of interconnectedness at these times.
Thank you for reading these words. Thank you for the power of your presence. And thank you for all ways you make love visible,
As we get ready for the great American eclipse on August 21st, come dance with your relationship to the strength to trust love through movement, ritual, community and a pilgrimage to gather together.
August 16th at 7 p.m.
Teacher: Qoya founder Rochelle Schieck
Click here to register.
Do you love Qoya? Would you like to make her more visible in the world? Invite your friends to try our new and improved 10 Days of Qoya Love e-course. It includes 10 daily essays and movements to introduce you to the core movements and philosophies of Qoya.
Click here to learn more.
Kripalu Women's Festival: August 25 - 27
Zimbabwe Retreat: November 18 - 25
Australia Retreat: November 10 - 15, 2017
Guatemala Retreat: January 20 - 17, 2018 - Enrollment opening soon!
India Retreat: March 2 - 11, 2018
Collective Retreat: March 24 - 31, 2018
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: October 6 - 7
Odemira, Portugal: October 7 - 14
New Castle, Virginia with Lindsay McKinnon: October 27 - 29
Dorset, England: November 4 - 5
Australia Retreat: November 10 - 15
Highlands, North Carolina: September 10 - 17, 2017 with Sara Ballard and Kaci Florez
Nosara, Costa Rica: March 31 - April 7, 2018 with Rochelle Schieck


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On Wed, 26 Dec 2001, Kynn Bartlett wrote: > At 5:25 PM -0500 12/26/01, Joe Clark wrote: > >>No, we're not lucky, because it doesn't provide minimal web > >>functionality nor adherence to the standards, > >I've used Lynx for up to ten hours a day for more than five years. I > >can assure you that (a) Lynx's "Web functionality," whatever that > >is, is high and (b) it supports HTML and XHTML *very* thoroughly for > > So it's decent at being an HTML-only browser -- for something put together sometimes HTML is all you can get to > Sure, IE sucks. Sure, Opera is not all it could be. Sure, Netscape > 4 is crap and Netscape 6 is a work in progress. That doesn't mean > we can't talk about the shortcomings of Lynx, and the shortcomings > include: "It can't do anything except simple HTML." no there is no perfect browser and each has it's strengths and weaknesses the point I am trying to make is that a browser should be able to use a web site no matter what browser is being used, that is universal access now what is that minimum, Lynx for whatever reason is well accepted, freely avaliable, supported, works on most OS, and something few others can do, it doesn't need PPP access to the web. I keep trying to emphisize this, the WORLD wide web needs to be able to be used WORLD wide including in third world nations and on obsolete equipment in areas where access to the web may be a very slow, expensive, and dirty telephone connection, maybe even using an acoustic coupler. A disabled person in Central America, Central Africa, many parts of Asia, even the South Pole have very limited access to the web and must get as much as possible under very difficult situations. We can not design out persons who may not be able to get the latest or faster OS and memory or computers or even phone lines. When I was in Nicaragua there were only 20 phone lines into the town where I was staying, a private phone was almost unheard of...plug your modem into the back of a pay phone and HOPE you can get 5 clean minutes on the web to get critical information. for example, while there, there was a bus accident, the local doctor needed critical information on a diagnosis, this link was all he had to save a woman's life, using an old Mac....! climbing down off my soapbox Bob ASCII Ribbon Campaign accessBob NO HTML/PDF/RTF in e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com NO MSWord docs in e-mail Access Systems, engineers NO attachments in e-mail, *LINUX powered* access is a civil right *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# THIS message and any attachements are CONFIDENTIAL and may be privledged. They are intended ONLY for the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, Please notify the sender as soon as possible. Please DO NOT READ, COPY, USE, or DISCLOSE this communication to others and DELETE it from your computer systems. ThanksReceived on Wednesday, 26 December 2001 18:06:56 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:21:16 UTC


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Veterans Day Dinner
Photo courtesy of Kathy Hanlon
Men and women who have served our country from WWII in the 1940's through today were honored at the Veterans Day dinner and program held at DeCordova Bend Country Club on Saturday, November 8, 2014, in DeCordova, Texas.
During the evening, Kathy Hanlon, National Chair, National Defense Committee, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, announced that DeCordova Bend Estates and the city of DeCordova stands with Vietnam veterans and has been officially approved by the Department of Defense as a Commemorative Partner with the Vietnam War Commemoration.
Several Vietnam era veterans presented the official Vietnam War Commemoration Flag to signify that Vietnam veterans are taking their place among the greatest generations of U.S. veterans. All Vietnam era veterans attending the event were asked to form a line in the front of the room where a group photo was taken and pins were distributed.
©2015 Vietnam War Commemoration. All rights reserved.


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cooler is a GIF-powered community for TV fans. It lets you to instantly create, search and share memes and GIFs from your favorite shows.
Launched their new online content and application streaming platform, and participated in the creation of a short informative film to describe HBO GO process.
I had the opportunity to work on the redesign of ABC.go.com website to create a more efficient user experience! Also worked on the Video Player of ABC's platform through all devices.
Directed this short film documentary about Yannick Sire, a French artist that build cars. Awarded as Best Short Documentary Film at the New Media Film Festival and Cannes films festival, this documentary promotes Sire Custom Performance, an exclusive custom car artist.
Broadcasting in 169 Countries.
More than 500 000 plays !
Best Short Documentary Films - the New Media film Festival
Best New Filmmaker - Cannes Films Festival.
Best Original Storytelling - Tribeca
HBO developed a specific branch for an amazing documentary selection. I created "The Emotions of Real Life" campaign to introduce and promote the new HBO Documentary Films through print and digital campaigns.
The concept was to engage viewers in a more authentic aspect of the REAL LIFE by showing a series of 52 documentaries through all their channels once a week, for a year.
Created UI/UX Experience for the app and as well the Photo frame.
Worked at Yahoo! under the direction of Paco Vinoly as a UX Visual Designer for Yahoo! Entertainment Hub. For three years, I conceptualize original ideas to completion through wireframes, storyboards, architectural interface, to engineering.
...A $3 million USD gem. There are only 6 Koenigseggs in the world and I was in charge of its market launch through a print and online video campaign.
Editorial campaign for PaperCut Magazine, which also gave life to two Fashion Editorial teasers.
Photographer & Director: Olivier Chatard
Stylist: Beau Barela
Stylist Assistant: Kim Virdi
Hair: Traci Garrett, Jennifer Nicole Baker, Casey Voelker
Makeup Artist: Teal Druda
Model: Aria Crescendo & Caroline Fauvet
Producer Vilte Sulcaite Holstad
Creative Direction for the Famous Venice beach Yoga collective Studio. I developed all their marketing presence online with a New website and as well online Video content based on Membership. I also directed and advice for the production of their Video content working closely with the owner of the yoga studio.
As a philanthropist, created H2OisLife.org as an aggregate website from major non-profits & water organizations.
We are in the most severe drought of California's history. I strongly believe we need to actively be part of this project!
Creative Director for Coti in Paris to develop the new brand image of Davidoff - COOL WATER with Paul Walker (RIP)— TV Commercial - Print Collateral
Launch Event in Malibu and in Time Square.
LOOKBOOK CAMPAIGN for the Brand CITYZEN GREEN in Los Angeles.
Directed the editorial lookbook film to show their new collection.
Created the motion graphic teaser for "Ebay IT" campaign.
Directed by Olivier Chatard
A visually striking story told through the power of images and music alone, Awareness is a short film which stirs the emotions, altering the viewers perception of the role water plays in our everyday life. With distilled black and white imagery, we see that water is the essence of life and one of the resources we waste the most.
Awareness is the story of a man and woman in their daily routine that mirrors the one most
of us partake in every day. In each act of their actions, water is intertwined, showing us the role it plays in our lives, and the role we play in its conservation.
By Means of water, we give life to everything. Water is Life...
Could we feel more powerless over our environment? Could we really make a difference?
Do we intuitively connect our daily actions to something bigger? Are we really running out of fresh water? Is it all too late?
Best ORIGINAL CONCEPTUAL FILM for GREEN FILM FESTIVAL in South Corea.
Best SHORT FILM at the SHORT FILM CORNER Cannes film festival
BEST DIRECTOR at the New Media Film Festival


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Initial 2018 OHL Draft Rankings
- Details
- Created: Saturday, 04 November 2017 14:43
Now two months into the 2017-18 minor-midget season, we have learned that the 2002 age group is one with great high-end talent and the depth to match. TheScout.ca team has worked feverously in the early stages of the year to get comfortable with each region in order to begin sorting out rankings. The process is a challenge and near impossible to get right this early, but that is the beauty of it. Things are certain to change considerably as we move past big events such as the Border Battle and Silver Stick in November, league playoffs, and culminating with the OHL Cup.
2017-18 Minor Midget Season Outlook
One factor that has thrown more of a wrench into the mix this year than others is how so many of the top American players committed to NCAA schools very early, leaving their status in terms of the OHL in question. Our top ranked skater playing south of the border is Antonio Stranges of the Little Caesars U16 club. Stranges is a University of Michigan commit, and while his hold on being the top U.S. player is firm, he will be challenged by the likes of New Jersey native Jason Siedem, Honeybaked teammates Sahil Panwar and Tanner Latsch, Wyatt Shingoethe from the Chicago Mission, and Jacob Truscott who suits up for Little Caesars U15 team.
In Ontario, what was thought to be a two-horse race for the top spot coming in has been quickly put to rest because of the incredible play of Quinton Byfield. A special player on a dominant York-Simcoe team, Byfield has been the story of the season thus far with many believing that he is the best minor midget AAA prospect since Connor McDavid. Thought to be his challenger, Dylan Peterson has gotten off to a slow start with CIHA in Ottawa and starts as our #3 ranked player. Our top-ranked defenseman, Jamie Drysdale grabs the #2 spot thanks to his flawless skating and ability to control and dictate a game in any way he wants.
Another storyline that needs mention is the dominance of a group of teams in Ontario that many of the players at the top of this year's draft will come from. The Toronto Marlboros, York-Simcoe Express, Vaughan Kings, Mississauga Reps and Oakville Rangers are all stacked squads and a massive chunk of the first two rounds should come from these teams.
For our subscribers, stay tuned for our coverage of the Battle of the Border HPHL Showcase event and Whitby Silver Stick Tournament. Upon the completion of the Silver Stick tournament, our scouts will collaborate and introduce a NEW Ranking in early December with expanded names. There is sure to be plenty of movement.
With that, TheScout.ca is proud to announce our Initial 2018 OHL Draft Ranking, featuring a Top 50 skater ranking and some honourable mentions that have proven to be worthy talents as top players to watch and will surely challenge this Top 50 group as the year develops. Also included is a Top 10 goalie ranking which will be expanded to Top 20 in the next ranking.
Subscribe to gain access to all of our premium content.Once subscribed click the link to view our Initial 2018 OHL Draft Rankings
Stay tuned for a lot more content as we cotinue to add Player Profiles, Game Reports, and more!!


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Reviews of His Masters Voice - The Devils Blues September 07 2016
Music.net.nz review by Kerry Monaghan
"…Full of Led Zeppelin swag, they are smooth and easy on the ears. It's hard not to get swept up in the moment and it's never easy to fully capture to readers how great of a show they put on. Vocalist, Jesse Sorensen has the blues running through his veins, an old soul in a young man's body that clearly lives and breathes what he does and it shows. A tight band that sound years above their average ages…"
Rock Bandom Radio, Canada. by Scotty D Salter
"Vocally supreme, Lyrically superb and the music is big time kick ass. Listening to them takes you on a journey like no other, both calming, trippy, hard hitting, fast paced and edgy. A must have in your music collection…"
"… I'm sick of it (blues) sounding so generic… (His Masters Voice's music) it's a breath of fresh air that I think has worldwide musical value"
- Zorran Mendonsa (Producer/Engineer)
The 13th Floor's Tove Partington had this to say…
"… Everything you ever wanted from the love child of metal and dirty blues has come true with His Masters Voice. After only five shows, they have already made it to my 'bands you must see before you die' list…"
NZ Musician Album Review by Stu Edwards
"While His Masters Voice has harvested a classic sound, Follow Me Down dishes up a modern flavour that could comfortably stack up next to modern icons such Black Stone Cherry or Mastodon. Bonus live track Lucid Dream is a weighty eight minute insight into what the band are all about"
NZM Fresh Talent - Clovis McEvoy
"Like a smouldering volcano, His Masters Voice have heaved into Auckland's live music scene – and with just a two-week turnaround from stepping into the studio to the release of their debut EP, it would appear the band could erupt anytime…"
"…Possession' manages to be satisfyingly heavy, while offering up more than enough surprises to keep the listener hooked"


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John Williams is in charge of the largest territory — and the largest economic unit — in the Federal Reserve System. The San Francisco-based 12th District of the Federal Reserve covers nine western states, including California, and ranks first among the districts in size of its economy. Covering 1.3 million square miles, the district is home to 21 percent of the nation's population. The 25.2 million workers in the district equate to 19 percent of the non-farm payroll employment in the nation — and 21 percent of the total personal income for workers in the country. This newspaper recently sat down with Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco, to discuss the regional economy. His comments have been edited for length and clarity.
Q What's your perception of the Bay Area economy?
A The Bay Area economy is improving dramatically. The exception is the outlying areas that were kind of ground central of the housing boom and were really hit hard by the housing crash.
Q How does the economy look in the rest of California?
A Outside of the Bay Area there are still problems. Parts of California are still struggling from the fallout from the housing crash and the foreclosure crisis. You don't have to go that far outside the Bay Area before you see areas with high unemployment and economic challenges. In the Central Valley those problems are severe.
Q How do you assess the Santa Clara County economy?
A Tech-centered businesses are having a great time now. There is a lot of tech job growth in Santa Clara County. The challenge with technology is we are moving away from a tech sector that builds and designs things to one that does more application development and business services. A lot of jobs are being created here and a lot of wealth is being created because of these tech companies.
Q What's your assessment of the San Francisco economy?
A The economy is on fire in San Francisco. Commercial real estate is strong. Unemployment has come way down. It's as strong as it has ever been.
Q How do things look in the East Bay?
A The East Bay economy suffered during the downturn. The hot market in San Francisco has created a boost in demand in the East Bay for office space. It's a good sign that some tech companies are setting up shop in the East Bay.
Q Regardless of the strength of the Bay Area economy, are there still challenges?
A There are booms and there are slumps. There are cycles. These really good times won't last forever. It won't always be the land of milk and honey.
Q How does construction look?
A Construction is one of the tough parts of the economy. We clearly overbuilt in the 2000s. We overbuild housing. We overbuilt commercial real estate. The commercial market is coming back. Home prices have come back. But residential construction has responded much more slowly than we would have thought.
Q Why has home building not rebounded?
A There is a psychological scarring effect in the housing market. A lot of people went into buying homes thinking the price would always go up, that they were great investments. When housing collapsed, people got afraid to re-enter. Banks and other lenders were also scarred. Lenders are being very cautious, they are waiting to see how the housing market recovers and what the new normal will be.
Q What's your forecast for construction?
A Over the longer term, I'm pretty optimistic about construction. In the short run, it's going to be a bit of a slog.
Q How does manufacturing look in the region?
A Manufacturing is in a long-term trend of fewer jobs and higher output. Manufacturing productivity is very high. But at the same time, manufacturing employment is shrinking. In areas where we have high value-added products, in the knowledge driven areas of manufacturing, that is where we will see some growth.
Q What about retail?
A Retail is driven by consumer spending, which is on a good track.
Q Tech is booming, but is it a bubble?
A During the dot-com bubble, why did established companies such as IBM, Microsoft and Intel fall? A lot of the demand for their products and services were coming from dot-com companies that were a mirage. To what extent are those conditions in existence today? There are arguments that this time, the tech boom is not as pervasive. A lot of these apps that are being created do not create spinoff demand for hardware. This time, maybe the spillover effects wouldn't be as bad nationwide.
Q What would the end of the tech boom mean for the Bay Area economy?
A The fallout from another bubble could be particularly bad here in the Bay Area. If the wealth of all the employees at Facebook, Google, Apple or Twitter or other tech companies were to plummet, that would obviously affect the local economy.
Q Starting with the rebound from the 1990s recession, each recovery seems to be weaker than the previous one. Are we having yet another jobless recovery?
A The current recovery is subpar. But maybe this is what the recoveries of the future will look like. We are entering a phase of slower GDP growth. Job growth will be strong enough to bring unemployment down to 5.25 percent nationally in a few years. The recession ended in mid-2009. We might reach full employment in late 2015 to early 2016. That is a very long time from the end of the recession back to full employment.
Contact George Avalos at 408-859-5167. Follow him at Twitter.com/georgeavalos.
Job: President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Age: 52
Residence: East Bay
First job: Newspaper delivery, first the Sacramento Bee, then the San Francisco.
Favorite indulgence: Pizza (spent several years managing Blondie's pizza in Berkeley and San Francisco).
Favorite past time: Traveling to places he's never been.
Favorite quote: "Though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea," by songwriters Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Big fan of science fiction/fantasy authors J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, William Gibson.


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Keziah CONNECTIONS Collaborates with Fashion Fair
Keziah CONNECTIONS are celebrating their second year anniversary on Thursday 24th July with a collaboration with Fashion Fair. Taking place at Debenhams' flagship store on Oxford Street, the evening will be a mixture of beauty and conversation. Fashion Fair's UK general manager, Connie Jackson will share the inspiring history of the brand, their exciting products and the plans for its future. Their MUA team, led by international make-up artists, Delita Pintos will be on hand to demonstrate the products and help you to find your perfect foundation match.
Keziah CONNECTIONS was founded by Natalie Clue in 2012 as a networking event for Women of Colour who either work or aspire to work in the beauty industry.
The event takes place at on 24th July between 6.30pm to 10.30pm at Debenhams, 334-348 Oxford Street, London W1C 1JG. You can book tickets here. brownbeauty readers can save £5 off the tickets by using this discount code - BROWNBEAUTYBDAY5.
For more information please go to the Keziah CONNECTIONS website.


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Because I'm grumpy and bloated and pretty much just sitting around eating chocolate and casseroles (blog on casserole cooking to come), I asked readers to come up with some words that I could blog about. It's just So Much Effort thinking up things myself. In the first sentence alone, I mentioned three of the words, so I feel like my work here is done. Still….
One of the words was submitted by my dear college friend Rae. We were roomies a long time ago, when we took ourselves very seriously and wore dark red lipstick and went to plays and acted in plays and musicals and talked about love and heartbreak. So, pretty much we're exactly the same…maybe just a little softer. The word she suggested was GHOSTS.
I have spent a fair amount of my time obsessed with the idea of ghosts. I love ghost stories and scary movies. I love good stories in general…but GHOST stories…there's just something about them. They seep into your skin, infect your subconscious, call to you in your sleep. Also, when you watch a good scary movie, they can make your husband scream like a little girl and you will have to comfort him and this will make you feel like a powerful, modern woman. Uh…Hypothetically speaking.
I have only had two direct ghost experiences. The first happened when I was in my early twenties and I felt a peculiar heat and tingle in the center of my lower back. This sensation happened every now and again and I was certain that it was because someone from Beyond was trying to get me to listen. Like, I was pretty sure that there was a message coming to me and the heat and prickling sensation was just the static of Afterlife tuning.
I listened…and listened…and then realized that the peculiar sensation was from the tattoo I got. They'd shaved my lower back because I'm a hairy mother fucker, and the hair was starting to grow back. So. Uhm. Not the Afterlife.
The other true story was in my rickety old apartment with my roommate Keeley. The house had a huge lightning rod and just felt plain creepy. (The landlord was old and wore super-shorts that were so tight we couldn't help but notice his ENORMOUS balls sausaged in there. I mean, we're talking, ELEPHANTINE).
In the apartment, Keeley and I heard strange things, saw shifting shadows, felt weird vibes, and I'm pretty sure there was some moaning one night. Of course, the house was filled with theater people so who knows WHAT was the cause of all that moaning.
One night, I came home to an empty house, went into my room, and felt IT. A presence. A disturbance. Then I noticed that the clocks in my room WERE TURNED AROUND. No one had been in the apartment and I knew Keeley had been at work all day and was, in fact, still there, since I'd just seen her there. So I did what any normal, well-adjusted female with the tendency to be dramatic would do. I. Fucking. Freaked.
Keeley later confessed that she'd given her dad keys to the apartment and he snuck in and moved everything around.
Come to think of it, he was probably hiding in my closet moaning. (And if that's true, I'm truly sorry to think of what he might've found or witnessed in there.)
So. My two true ghost stories aren't really ghost stories at all. I DO believe in ghosts, but I think most ghosts exist in our own psyche in truly terrifying ways.
I don't know. Maybe I'll finally have my real ghost-encounter. After all, I'm off to New Orleans in a few weeks to see Rachel and one of our other college roomies. If we don't encounter ghosts, we'll at least look really scary in the morning after a night on the town.


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We've all had bad bosses; some unfortunate souls still have them. And they can be hell on earth to work for. But, don't worry; it's OK to snigger under your breath.
If you currently have a horrible boss, I feel for you… so, let me help a little bit with these scathing, hilarious Bad Boss Memes. Enjoy them friend; you have earned it through years of mental and physical anguish.
See Also: How to Piss Your Boss Off Without Getting Into Trouble
Legally Grey
OK, so maybe we've all been guilty of being less than ethical, but this is definitely illegal…also would you do that just for contracts?
Never Listen to Your Boss
You don't do your job, you get yelled at. Do your job exactly as they tell you, you get yelled at again, it makes perfect sense, right?
Completely Illegal
Firing someone because they pointed out their basic rights is just plain illegal. But, how many bosses care these days?
I Can Do Whatever I Want
It feels like your horrible boss's job is to make your life more difficult. Well it's not just you, it happens to lots of people.
Practice What You Preach
Yeah, the douchiest and laziest of douche-bag moves.
The Micro-Manager
Some bad bosses believe that they are not micromanaging you when they are asking all these questions. To be honest, I am not sure what they think they're doing- being a nosy boss?
Pay Inequality = Low Overhead
OK, if you know someone that has done this please, please report them.
The Dictator
No One Likes Initiative
Really? When someone saves you money, you're supposed to say "Thank You."
We Are All One Big (Horrible) Family
Maybe they are taking us back to the 1950s when children used to call their fathers "sir" and mothers "ma'am"?
But You Said
Ok, to be fair we don't know how slow the employee was in the aforementioned scenario.
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
A good boss will set a great example and motivate their employees, but guess what bad bosses do? You got it right - they work as little as possible!
Yeah, that's exactly what that seems like to me.
Leave Everything to the Last Minute
Iron(ic) Boss
What a beautiful day to spend inside four walls and with annoying people who act like they are the king of the world.
Great Leadership, Great Motivation
This macho, "I speak my mind", crap is for idiots. There are more delicate ways to say things.
The Considerate Boss
Gee…thanks boss.
(Un)Realistic Expectations
All horrible bosses know nothing about patience…they want something, and they want it NOW!
Fast Meeting
This will be a quick and casual after work meeting with only a few tasks…four hours later and it's 10 o'clock at night and still need to be at work the next day all freshened up and ready.
Captain My Captain!
Leaders are in the trenches with their women and men…bosses, on the other hand, are far, far away from the fray.
Do you have any boss memes? Show them proudly below...this is a safe place.
This article was origianly published in May 2016.


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An event every week that begins at 9:30 am on Tuesday, repeating until August 7, 2018
As part of our Take Care Tuesdays the Carousel Museum is continuing to offer Zumba with Marisa Murray.
Marisa Murray, licensed ZUMBA Fitness instructor, was born to a ballerina mother in Indonesia. Though dance was in her blood, Marisa found that Ballet was not for her. She began her journey in search of the dance style that best fit her which ultimately led to Zumba. Zumba classes at Valley Ballet & Dance Fitness fulfilled her passion for dance while also benefiting her health benefits in a fun and exciting way. Encouraged by others to become an instructor, Marisa found her calling. With a BA from University of Hartford in Graphic Design and an artistic talent Marisa found Zumba instruction to be a creative outlet. Marisa's Zumba class features energetic creative dance choreography with a focus on total fitness.
Book Online: www.thecarouselmuseum.org/book-online
or call: 860-585-5411


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E.D. Hirsch on Education Reform
E.D. Hirsch, Jr., now retired, was until recently Professor of English and of Education and Humanities at the University of Virginia.
He is the author of several widely read books on the subjects of cultural literacy and education reform, including Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know (Houghton Mifflin, 1987), The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking Education Gap for American Children (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006), and, most recently, The Making of Americans: Democracy and Our Schools (Yale UP, 2009).
Professor Hirsch argues that the significant and indisputable decline in language proficiency among America's schoolchildren over the past fifty years is primarily due to the mistaken educational philosophy known as "child-centered schools."
During the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century, most Americans agreed that the overriding aim of public education was to prepare children to assume their responsibilities as citizens of a democracy. Whence the name "community-centered schools" for the traditional approach.
In a multiethnic society (which the United States has always been), the concept of community-centered schools was widely understood to mean that a minimal core of common knowledge needed to be taught to all children throughout the country.
But Hirsch notes that the community-centered school concept was not only important on account of the common civic culture that it fostered. The traditional emphasis on a common curriculum had one other great advantage, as well.
That advantage lies in the way we now know that children learn. Understanding new facts, it turns out, depends on already having enough background knowledge to be able to make sense of the new facts.
This means that learning increases exponentially as a function of knowledge acquired, so that the more one knows, the easier it becomes to learn stilll more. Conversely, the less a child knows when it starts school, the harder and harder it becomes for it to catch up.
This new understanding of how learning works that we have now gleaned from modern cognitive science was already incorporated, thanks to the widsom of common sense and generations of experience, in the traditional community-centered, common-curriculum approach to education. So, what went wrong?
According to Hirsch, the reform movement of the 1930s leveled such charges against the traditional common-curriculum approach as "one size fits all," "rote learning," "mere facts," "reactionary," and even "fascist." In its place, advocates of the so-called "child-centered" (really, anti-curriculum) movement declared that developing "critical thinking skills" ought to be the principal aim of education, not the imparting of specific knowledge.
But, of course, there is no such thing as thinking critically about nothing. All thinking involves the comprehension and analysis of specific factual claims and interpretations. The idea that the form of learning can be taught by itself, without any content, is a myth---one that, unfortunately, has dominated the educational establishment in the Unites States for several generations, and continues to do so today.
In this lecture, delivered at the Manhattan Institute in New York in 2009, Hirsch explains exactly how the modern child-centered movement in education bought into a scientific myth, and why abandoning this mistaken educational philosophy is the most important thing we must do to improve primary and secondary education in America.
He has also discussed these ideas in a recent New York Times op-ed piece (here), as well as in a longer version of that essay (here) on the website of the Core Knowledge Foundation, of which Professor Hirsch is the founder and chairman.
We believe these issues are so important that we reproduce some highlights from the lecture below:
Reading comprehension is not a formal, transferable skill. If you are a good reader and you bring relevant prior knowledge, you will understand what you're reading . . . That's why the current multi-hour-per-day lessons in teaching reading strategies in lieu of teaching coherent content has continued to fail.
The key difference between advantaged and disadvantaged students on entering preschool is a difference of knowledge and vocabulary. And the key duty of the schools is to impart enabling knowledge and in so doing narrow that gap between demographic groups . . .
The currently dominant conception, that is, the child-centered school, has been a historic aberration. It's failed badly in the three main goals of democratic education: to give everyone a chance; to raise achievement; and create the civic-minded citizens who would rise above faction and support the common good.
Our educational failures come chiefly from an intellectual monopoly of faulty ideas.
If Hirsch is right---and we believe he is---then the struggle for educational reform in this country must be waged, not just in the political arena, but also on the plane of ideas.


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Brick & Mortar news
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Latest News From ETRetail.com
Startup nation: Indian startup founders reveal important new trends
Entrepreneurs are maturing in their mindset. What are the yardsticks they use to benchmark their success?
India Inc readies for a life without plastic
In sync with govt's movement, companies have started taking measures to scale down use of single-use plastics for office-use products, cafeterias
Lenskart gets Rs 392 crore from Kedaara
Lenskart is issuing over 60 lakh compulsorily-convertible-cumulative-preference shares to Kedaara's two entities at a per share value of over Rs 638, the documents sourced from business intelligence firm Tofler showed.
Jaina Group to bring back Japan's Sansui, Nakamichi
Sansui was earlier manufactured and sold by the embattled Videocon group, but now makes a re-entry with the Jaina group as part of a fresh push in India and neighbouring markets.
Linen Club aims Rs 1,500 crore business by 2024; to add 200 stores
Besides domestic expansion, Linen Club, which has couple of stores in the Middle East, is also exploring opportunities to open stores in southeast Asian regions.
Sony India's revenue falls for fourth year in a row
Analysts, however, predicted a tough year ahead for the company in India with Chinese brands like OnePlus and Xiaomi ready to enter the premium television segment.
Flipkart expands delivery reach by 80% for large appliances
The company claims that it has increased its reach to around 19,200 PIN codes from about 10,660 codes in 2018 for delivery of large appliances.
Apparel makers stitch low-priced lines for etailers
Companies aim to expand distribution, tap 18-24 age group of Flipkart, Amazon customers.
Lower discounts, economic slump take toll: Click-wait for ecommerce as consumers put off buys
Spending on online shopping sites down by a fifth in first half of 2019, says Kantar report.
India to host Dubai-like mega shopping fests to boost exports
She said that these "mega shopping festivals" will be held at four destinations across the country and their themes will vary from gems and jewellery, textiles and leather to yoga, among others.
DeHaat ties up with Coca Cola to work with litchi farmers
With this venture growers will be provided with complete end to end support right from setting demo orchards to rejuvenating existing orchards and creating transparent supply chain for the fruit, they said.
Recycling is not really an answer; packaging must be biodegradable: Rhea Mazumdar Singhal, founder Ecoware
The 37-year-old is the founder of Ecoware, a biodegradable food packaging company based out of Greater Noida. It makes plates, cups and bowls from agricultural waste such as sugarcane bagasse.


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Bilateral interactions with non-EU regulators
The European Medicines Agency cooperates with many of the world's largest regulatory bodies outside the European Union (EU) in areas such as inspections, safety of medicines and exchange of information on issues of mutual concern.
In an increasingly globalised pharmaceutical market and a world in which public health issues go beyond national borders, cooperation among medicine regulators has become key to supervising complex supply chains and avoiding duplication of regulatory work and make best use of resources.
International agreements are the basis for current model of collaboration, allowing not only sharing of information but also sharing of work.
In cooperating with non-EU regulators, EMA focuses on mutual reliance and work-sharing and training and capacity-building in countries with less-developed regulatory systems.
Promoting awareness of EU regulatory system
EMA organised awareness sessions in September 2017 and in March 2018 to present the European medicines regulatory network and EMA's role in it to international regulators and non-governmental organisations (NGO):
- Second international awareness session for international regulators, academia and non-governmental organisations (8-9/3/2018)
- Introduction to the European Union regulatory system and EMA for international regulators and NGOs (18-19/9/2017)
Further information and materials are available on the meeting pages.
Sixty regulators from non EU-European, African, Asian and American countries and several international NGOs attended the first session.
Based on positive feedback, EMA is planning to organise further sessions, if possible twice a year.
Bilateral interactions with non-EU regulators
The Agency has agreements in place with regulators including:
The Agency supports the European Commission's collaboration on pharmaceuticals with:


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Marines and soldiers in Iraq are being wounded and killed on a daily basis, so can that help explain why some Marines may have snapped in the town of Haditha, where 24 civilians, including children, were killed last November after a Marine died in a roadside bomb attack?
Retired Army Gen. William Nash, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an ABC News military consultant, said that although there is no excuse for shooting innocent children, Marines and soldiers are susceptible to snapping if certain terrible conditions are in place.
"The fact of the matter is there's three basic ingredients: There's stress, exhaustion, tiredness, the second factor is fear and the third is discipline," said Nash, the author of "In the Wake of War: Improving U.S. Post-Conflict Capabilities." "All those come together under the leadership umbrella, if you will. And if the leadership is insufficient and stress and fear allow people to break down the necessary discipline, then bad things can happen and it's tragic."
"It's stress, fear, isolation and, in some cases, they're just upset," said Army Brig. Gen. Donald Campbell. "They see their buddies getting blown up on occasion, and they could snap."
Today, the New York Times reported that Marine commanders learned about the incident in Haditha within two days, but did not think it warranted investigation.
Haditha is not the only problem the military is facing. There is also controversy swirling around what may have happened in the town of Ishaqi. Some Iraqis say 11 civilians were killed by U.S. troops. Previously unaired video shot by an AP Television News cameraman at the time appears to show at least five children dead, one will bullet wounds to the head. The military said it conducted an investigation and found that the troops lawfully killed four people when going after high-level terrorists.
Failure of Leadership
"I'm surprised, frankly, that they were so quick to come to a conclusion on that particular incident," Nash said. "As you know, the Iraqi government has reservations on the conclusions. At the same time, it's my understanding that in that fight, some significant insurgent leaders were captured or killed. And as a consequence, the military probably feels the other casualties were incidental to the military operation."
Recently, top Marine General Mike Hagee went to Iraq on a special mission to tell his troops about Marine honor -- something that has been called in to question in light of the recent investigations into unlawful killing of civilians my member of the United States military.
"We are quite proud in the Marine Corps of our core values -- courage, honor and commitment," he said.
Despite the military code of honor, allegations of unlawful action persist.
On Wednesday in Samarra, a pregnant woman named Nahiba Jassim and her cousin, Saliha Hassan, were killed by gunfire when their car entered what the U.S. military called a clearly marked, prohibited area near a checkpoint and observation post manned by coalition forces.
According to the military, the driver of the car ignored signals and commands to stop, so troops fired shots to disable the vehicle.
"I think the investigation will ultimately bring out that information," Nash said. "I think the American people will want accountability for what took place, and accountability for the soldiers and Marines on the ground, accountability of the generals that supervise those folks and ultimately [accountability of] the national command authority. The president and secretary of defense are, in fact, responsible for what the armed forces in the United States do or fail to do."
Frustration at the Pentagon
All the attention on these cases appeared to be irritating the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.
"I can't assure the American people of anything with respect to it," said Rumsfeld who maintained that the investigations have not jeopardized his job. "There's an investigation going on with respect. I'm going to repeat myself for the 15th time. There's an investigation going on."
As a result of the Haditha case, several Marines are expected to face charges -- from dereliction of duty to murder. In the town of Hamandiya, sources familiar with that case say several Marines have confessed to dragging a man out of a house, shooting him and then planting an AK-47 on his body. Several Marines in this case are expected to be charged with murder.
In Ishaqi, an anti-American group in Iraq is distributing a video that accuses U.S. troops of executing 11 civilians. A military investigation concluded the charges "are baseless."
"Allegations that the troops executed a family living in this safe house, and then hid the alleged crimes by directing an air strike, are absolutely false," said Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell.
In an especially disturbing development for U.S. officials, some of those allegations now come from the Iraqi government, including the prime minister, who said U.S. troops do not respect the Iraqi people and kill them just on suspicion.
This story was originally reported by ABC New's Jonathan Karl.


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Why we work with businesses
Businesses working with NGOs and Governments is essential if we are to achieve positive change for the planet.
We know that successful economies rely on healthy ecosystems, and that issues like climate change, energy security and the loss of natural assets pose big risks to the sustainability of communities, and the corporations that depend on them. Some companies have already made positive advances, while others are unsure about how to go about it.
That's where we come in. And it's why we don't just work with companies who are already doing most things 'right'. Sometimes the biggest changes can come about by forming challenging relationships and creating constructive solutions together.
Working with business is a critical component to achieving large-scale, long lasting environmental and social benefits.
How we transform business
WWF has experience and technical expertise, as well as brand strength and global presence. The businesses we work with look for the benefits of long-term security and resilience, and they stand out as a company building a future where people and nature will thrive on our planet.
We work on direct commodities and supply chain issues, through to ensuring businesses align with global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement, Convention on Biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. From the shop floor, through the boardroom, to the investors and stakeholders financing business - we engage proactively at all levels to bring about the change needed.
Sometimes we form collaborative networks where companies, civil society and governments can come together and develop innovative solutions to environmental challenges. We also join together across society to call on governments to create better policies to achieve sustainable growth.
Are you sitting comfortably? Sustainable timber sourcing and the UK furniture industry Read More
UK businesses risk timber resource crunch if they fail to move to sustainable practices Read More
WWF reacts to the formation of the new Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Read More


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PhD Economist Marc Faber writes:
Economic conditions may turn out to be far worse than in previous recessions, including the Great Depression at the beginning of the 1930s. Everybody seems to think that, thanks to the government's monetary and fiscal interventions, this recession will come nowhere near the 1930s slump. However, I think it might be far worse – and precisely because of the interventions.
Nice going Paulson, Bernanke and Frank.


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How to keep running a business when you're fresh out of creative juice
As a creative entrepreneur and freelancer, I know (well) that awful feeling of turning on your laptop one morning and waiting for inspiration to strike and... nothing. There's no cogs turning, no ideas flowing, no creative juice left in the system.
How frustrating. Especially when you have clients booked in, blogs to write, and products to create. You've set aside the time, made yourself comfortable - you might've even made a cocktail - but your creativity won't come to the party. It wants to lie in the bath with cucumbers on its eyes.
This is something I struggle with myself. As a graphic designer with jobs usually booked back-to-back, I can't afford to have many days where I just can't come up with any good ideas.
Unfortunately, inspiration is a slippery muse, and refuses to arrive on demand.
Here's the thing: it's a lot easier to keep a little juice in the tank than to refill it again. So firstly, here are some tips to help you protect your reserves:
- Ongoing stress is the enemy of creativity, so make sure you include any activities you love that reduce stress - meditation, yoga, watching Parks and Recreation - in your weekly schedule. Down time is essential.
- Leave a day or three between each freelance booking/writing session, or a few hours between clients if you are a coach or consultant.
- Ladies, try tracking your monthly cycle to identify any patterns in your creativity, energy levels and mood. Generally some weeks will be a lot better to start a big project, hold meetings and spark new ideas than others. It's handy to understand yourself.
- Do something totally different, but also creative. If you're a copywriter, try weaving; if you're a designer, try poetry; if you're a photographer, try painting! By tricking your brain into being creative in a different way, you can fill those tanks a little more.
- Take good care of yourself - food, exercise, sleep. Yeah yeah, you've heard it all before. But if your body isn't feeling tended to, your mind will be busy imagining delicious snacks or a warm cosy bed instead of fresh new ideas.
- Read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert for a great understanding of where creativity comes from and how it works, and a gentle butt-kicking too.
So what if you've been working yourself into the ground, or you're having one of those days where you are plain out of ideas, and you just HAVE to get on with business?
Here are some suggestions:
- Get outside. Walk around the building or the block. Get a coffee or stare at the trees.
- Browse Pinterest, or another eye-candy site, but put a firm time limit on it!
- Feel the sun on your face, breathe deeply and remember of the last time you were truly inspired.
- Surrender your frustration. Close your eyes, whisper a few sentences to release it, pause, and then invite fresh ideas to flow.
- 5 minute personal dance party. Pick a real banger. Whip that hair around.
- Have a gasp-inducing cold shower.
- Draw a couple of oracle/tarot cards for guidance, if that's your thing.
- Bargain with your brain using the Pomodoro Technique, and plan cool rewards for your downtime between sessions.
- Call a friend or (let's be real here) message them on Facebook. Tell the what you need to be doing and by when, and get them to hold you accountable throughout the day.
- If you are a fridge-checker, have snacks at your desk, to reduce excuses for getting up.
- Move your laptop to a new location (this one usually works for me!) Try the living room, bed if it's cosy, backyard, or head to a scenic location and work as hard as you can before your battery runs out.
- Delegate some tasks to an employee or Virtual Assistant (VA). Schedule some stuff in advance. Have a contingency plan. That way the cogs keep turning even if you're down for the count.
Or, if things are really bad:
- Take the damn day off. You have my permission.
I'd love to hear from you - do you have any techniques for keeping the creative juice tank full, or getting yourself back on track on those days your brain will not cooperate? Let me know in the comments!


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Spring 2016 TrendsFebruary 29th, 2016
That's right – spring is right around the corner! We're so excited to see what our weddings have in store and we just couldn't wait to share a few things that have been catching our eye lately.
Gold & Glimmery
We're seeing all things metallic this year! As we watch silver exit the stage, we welcome gold, copper, and our personal favorite, rose gold. Expect this year's metallics to sparkle as well – folks are really embracing the elegant touch and we couldn't be happier! Perhaps all that glitters really is gold.
Keep it Green
Organic details are in! From raw wood to natural herbs, couples are including accents that embrace nature and the results are just stunning. These details pair great with rustic themes, but can also look incredible blended into glam celebrations. An added benefit of natural herbs is the subtle yet lovely fragrance that comes with them!
Go Long
Couples are starting to move away from the traditional round table setup, while opting for long farm style tables. Not only are long tables visually appealing, but they also are great for conversation and family-style menus!
His & Her Drinks
Rather than sticking to a solo signature cocktail, go all out and serve two special drinks – his favorite and her favorite! If budget is of concern, stick to a beer or wine mixer – it'll go a much longer way than liquor cocktails!
Late Night Bites
From donuts to cheeseburger sliders, everybody loves a good late night snack. Thank your guests with a goodbye treat to send them on their way – they'll be very appreciative!
See You Soon,
~Paula & Martin Ramirez
Martin and Paula Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion Wedding Resort. They enjoy opening their hearts & home to host countless happy couples on their most special day. They have lovingly created a private wedding estate like no other and are honored to share their dream with so many beautiful couples!


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Each year for confirmation the students are asked to write a faith statement. They choose a bible verse that speaks to them, talk about what it means and answer questions like "Have you ever doubted that God exists?" or "What does the word faith mean to you?" This year we had Brenna, Ashley, Brendan and Cedric present their faith statement to the congregation on Pentecost Sunday. It's powerful to hear honest and insightful thoughts a persons faith at a particular time. Congratulations to all four of you for the time and effort you put into these. Below are the four faith statements for you to read.
One Comment
Sustain the excellent work and producing in the crowd!


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Our Second Annual Souper Bowl-a-Thon is a great opportunity to get involved and have a FUN time while helping your local community soup kitchen. Recruit people for your team of up to six bowlers (friends, family, co-workers, church members, etc.). They do not need to have previous bowling experience – just be willing to raise a minimum of $100 each bowler (minimum of $500 dollars per team) and be ready to have a bowling blast!
Our theme this year is "Favorite Duos". We encourage bowlers to have fun, however costumes are NOT mandatory. If you want to dress up, there are so many Duos to choose from!
You don't need to be much of a bowler; this event is more about having a great time and supporting our community's Soup Kitchen. Please keep in mind, we are the only Soup Kitchen in Franklin County and we are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Don't have an entire team? Don't worry! Just sign up as an individual bowler and we'll place you with some great people.
Our goal is to raise a minimum of $12,000 thru individual donations and event sponsorships. All Proceeds go directly to Martha's Kitchens new home! (opening this Fall!)
Online Registration is open now, along with more details. Donations can also be made by cash or check at Martha's Kitchen. Click here to Register and/or Donate now!


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High Africa consists of two areas: the High Africa Camp and the Under The Bluegums Camp. The venue is group orientated and a suitable destination venue with overnight accommodation for conferencing, weddings, team building getaways, private functions and school outdoor adventure camps and youth leadership camps.
The two camps are situated adjacent to each other along the banks of the Breede River. Depending on numbers and the occasion clients can hire either one or both of the camps.We have plenty of overnight accommodation which allows our clients to spend time away from the distractions and bustle of town life in the safety of our idyllic venue.


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Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D.
ASI Representative for Gulf Region, USA
Educator, Neuroscientist, Administrator and Artist
Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D., is a native of Canton, Mississippi and a graduate of Holy Child Jesus High School, Canton, Mississippi. A distinguished Honors College graduate of Jackson State University, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1984. As a student at Jackson State University, Dr. Cain was an exemplary leader. She was chosen Miss Jackson State University 1983-84. She was elected Miss Freshman and Sophomore Class representative to the Student Government Association and she served as editor of the Jacksonian yearbook.
In 1989, Cain earned a doctoral degree in anatomy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi. She was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Anatomy Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anatomy at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey from 1989-90 and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School from 1990-1992
Presently, Dr. Cain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosciences and Cell Biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, where she teaches medical and graduate students. She is an Associate Member of the Institute for Medical Humanities. She is a course director for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Cell biology Course and holds an administrative position as the Director of Medical School Enrichment Programs in the Office of Student Affairs. She is also Vice Chair of the Curriculum Committee of the School of Medicine, an Osler Student Society Mentor and Vice President of the Minority Faculty Administrative Professional Council. Cain is a neuroscientist. Her research at UTMB has involved investigating agents that protect spinal cord neurons against the effect of glutamate toxicity and other insults. She has mentored students and published papers in peer reviewed journals. She is 2007 graduate of the Scholars is Education Program at UTMB, a program designed to develop leaders in the area of medical education.
Dr. Cain realizes the importance of service. She served as chairperson of the Committee for Diversity in Graduate Education and was the organizer of the UTMB's Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium from 1993-1998. She has served on numerous committees and council including, the Graduate School Recruitment, Affirmative Action, Kempner Scholarship, Executive Graduate, Faculty Evaluation, Science Education, Cell Biology Program Admissions and Examination committees; the Minority Faculty and Faculty Coordinating councils, and the Core Committee for Minorities. She is an executive review committee member for the RISE program at Jackson State University. She has served as an advisor to graduate, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty and freshman medical students. Presently she is an elected member of the Admissions Committee of the School of Medicine and a member of the Education Research Committee. In the community Cain served on the executive board of directors of Communities in Schools in Galveston, Texas. She was a volunteer lab instructor at Heritage Christian Academy in 1998 and a volunteer in the children's hospital at UTMB. She is also the founder of the Marion Davis, Jr. Scholarship Fund at the Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Canton, Mississippi. She has also reached out on an international level and is assisting with efforts to develop educational programs and centers in Africa.
The recipient of many honors and awards, Dr. Cain was chosen in 1998 as one of four individuals at UTMB who portray the ultimate in professionalism and has received such awards as the Outstanding Achievement in Medical Research Award, the award for Excellent Acumen and Leadership in Research and the Undergraduate Symposium at UTMB-Galveston. In March 1999 she received a plaque and recognition for 5 years of dedication as Chair of the Committee for Diversity in Graduate Education at UTMB. She received the Harris L. Kempner Award in May 1999 for her significant contribution to the recruitment, retention and graduation of underrepresented medical students at UTMB. She was the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award on January 14, 2000 for her work in promoting diversity in the graduate school at UTMB. She received the "Unsung Hero Award" on March 19, 2000 from Congressman Nick Lampson for her contributions to the community of Galveston. In October of 2003 she was nominated for the "Class of 1947 Excellence in Education Award" for her contributions to the Gross Anatomy and Radiology Course. On April 2, 2004 she received the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Galveston Council of the Greeks for her contributions to science and education and for her service to the community. Recently in October 2005, she received the honor of being elected by faculty colleagues to serve on the Medical School's Admission Committee at UTMB.
Dr. Cain is affiliated with numerous scientific, educational, community and social organizations. She is a member of the International Society for Neuroscience; the Sigma XI Scientific Research Society; the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Beta Phi Omega Chapter; the Heroines of Jericho; the Order of the Eastern Star; the Daughters of Isis and the Order of the Golden Circle. Cain is a folk artist whose work is presently exhibited at several galleries throughout the United States and has been exhibited in New York, City for the past three years. She was featured in the March 2006 issue of Southern Living Magazine for her achievements in art, science and education. She was also featured in the March 2006 Issue of the American Association Medical Reporter Magazine for her science and art.


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The Town of Sharon, Massachusetts is turning into a juggernaut. Sharon was, once again, named by Money Magazine as one of the best places to live in America. Sharon finished in third place behind Apex, North Carolina and Papillion, Nebraska. There's got to be a joke in there somewhere concerning Apex's first place finish. This isn't the first time that Sharon has been named to this type of list.
Sharon was first named on Money Magazine's 2011 list; it finished eleventh. Sharon was then again named on Money Magazine's 2013 list; it finished first. Sharon may have now usurped Milton as the place with the most "best place to live" awards in all of Massachusetts; Milton finished seventh in 2006, fifth in 2009 and second in 2011 in the annual Money Magazine list.
I once lived in a little bungalow at 347 South Main Street. I frequented:
- Alice's Mandarin Taste
- Crescent Ridge Dairy
- Roger's Barber Shop
- Sharon Optical
- Sharon Pizza Market
I lived in Sharon long enough to know that the restaurant space located at the end of the Sharon Heights Shopping Plaza, currently Sichuan Gourmet, seems to change hands every year or so to another operator of a restaurant featuring some iteration of Asian cuisine. Or maybe I've been away long enough that Sichuan Gourmet has broken that streak? I don't know.
I also lived in Sharon to know that I was an idiot for not buying the little brick building located at 431 South Main Street when it was languishing there in 2000; it was eventually sold by Cumberland Farms for only $160,000 in November, 2000 and bought back by Cumberland Farms for $250,000 in December, 2014. I've sold a bit of real estate in Sharon over the past fifteen years. I most recently sold a small ranch located at 31 East Street to a buyer in August, 2011 for only $238,000; he sold it in December, 2014 for $299,900.
Now, we all know that every town has its knocks. I've had too many buyers dismiss Sharon from the list of towns that they'd be willing to live in because they perceive that Sharon's property taxes are too high. This isn't coming from me. I try to push Sharon. The supposed reason that Sharon's tax rate is higher than many towns of similar size is that the mix of commercial and residential properties leans too heavily on the residential side of the ledger which increases costs related to schools. Here's the link to "Massachusetts tax rates in 2015, by city and town" provided by Boston Business Journal. Sharon ranks as the 17th most expensive municipality out of 336 municipalities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Hancock, Massachusetts is the least expensive at $2.84 per $1,000 and Longmeadow, Massachusetts is the most expensive at $23.63 per $1,000.
I'm moving to Stoughton soon so I'll be able to begin concentrating more on the Sharon market. Maybe I'll see you either at the Starbucks or Boston Sports Clubs (BSC) at The Village Shoppes in Canton? Let's be honest, I'll probably be at Five Guys.
With that being said, congratulations to the residents and business owners of Sharon! Bravo!
Here's the list of condominiums and single families that are currently listed for sale in Sharon:
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Have you wondered how the teams working on Telerik products test software? We launched a detailed guide, giving you deeper insight into our very own processes. We'll share insights around the practices and tools our product development and web presence teams employ to confirm we ship high quality software. We'll go into detail so that you can learn not only the technical details of what we do but why we do them. This will give you the tools to become testing experts.
Set your load tests for success in three easy steps. Ultimately, load testing is about making sure business goals are met, and unpleasant surprises minimized or eliminated entirely.
Jump into this insightful how-to guide on best practices that walks you through the load testing universe and helps you find your path to success.
What do the London Olympics of 2012, the U.S. health exchanges today, and a Victoria Secret online fashion show during the Super Ball all have in common? Their web sites and web applications failed miserably under real world user interaction.
The result is site downtime, embarrassment, loss of revenue, and unwanted negative publicity. Why do web sites fail when it is usually vitally important that they remain operational and responsive to users?
This whitepaper offers insights into why these failures occur and what the cost is to the organization. It describes five practices that enable all organizations to better prepare for traffic in response to new applications or marketing initiatives.
In a recent Magic Quadrant report on Integrated Software Quality Suites, Gartner analysts point to four key trends impacting the automated software testing marketplace:mobility, scalability in the cloud, new agile development practices, and emergence of analytics. Learn how you can take advantage of these trends to sharpen your competitive edge.


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Translation of "Clockwork Apple"/
You can also look back on translations of Ciel's Memories, Alouette's Good Day and Elf War. I should also mention that Mr. Hanzo is helping out with another translation project, which you may already know about. TMMN is starting to become some kind of... crazy translation place, or something!


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A sign with an anti-China message has been hung at North Korea's Gang Gun Military Academy, a conservative South Korean daily reported on Monday.
The source used by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, however, was unnamed, a practice for which it has been criticized in the past.
Gang Gun Military Academy, the site where the sign, reading "China is a betrayer and is our enemy" was allegedly hung, is one of North Korea's higher military education institutions, nurturing high-level generals.
However, the move would not be unprecedented at the academy and the report came as South Korean President Park Geun-hye has met Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, on Sunday (local time) at the Nuclear Security Summit in Netherlands.
"(If the Chosun's report is true) a meeting of two presidents from South Korea and China has likely affected North Korea's decision to hang the sign again," said Ahn Chan-il, president of the World Institute For North Korea Studies.
Ahn said that North Korea has for some time been afraid of having its political and economic system affected by China.
"China has successfully adopted a market economy while maintaining its communist idea. But Pyongyang knows it will be impossible for North Korea to do same thing," Ahn said.
"That's why North Korea is afraid of China's influence, and hanging the sign is one of its efforts to resist any kind of influence from China."
Though the news of the sign could not be independently verified, it would not be the first time North Korea has displayed a negative message about China. When South Korea and China officially established a diplomatic relations in 1992, Kim Il Sung, the first North Korean leader, visited the Gang Gun Military Academy, telling cadets that China was an enemy of North Korea and that the North might have to go to war with China.
At that time, a sign of this nature was hung at the academy for the first time.
A sign like this was once again hung at the academy on Kim Jong Un's orders when China joined in international sanctions from the UN last year, and Kim stressed that North Korea should reconsider its attitude toward China.
The Chosun is a conservative daily noted for its anti-North stance, and it has been criticized for sensationalistic reporting on the North based on unverified sources in the past.
Picture: Roman Harak, Flickr Creative Commons
Join the influential community of members who rely on NK News original news and in-depth reporting.
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New year, same life. Everything is basically the same as 4 days ago. These are dates of good intentions, in which the optimism reigns. This year we have not proposed anything more than continue working, rowing this project to good port, that's all. We started looking for change for the better, to do something exciting, to promote small brands, small local projects, small businesses, in our case, fashion brands that focus on quality, design and local production (in the European Union ). These are also dates in which the winter sales become the most viewed, pronounced and read word; There is plenty of winter ahead so it is a good time to buy those basic garments that will keep you warm and stylish. It's also a good time to buy local brands and stores and never forget what it costs to make a garment and why it's worth it. We can only assure you that we ensure that you receive the best product manufactured in the best possible way. Here are 5 products on sale that will make you feel good, because they have a 20% and 30% off, because they are beautiful, because they have style and because they are manufactured in the European Union:
1. Coats and jackets. A perfect long coat in camel and a beautiful navy bomber jacket.
2. Sweaters and jumpers. These beauties will keep you warm in style. It's jumper time!
3. Shirts and tops. Sport and casual shirts and tops.
4. Trousers. Flared, wide, straight, classic, trendy. Perfect trousers with perfect fitting.
5. Skirts. Long and short with warm tissues perfect for winter.
View more products on sale up to 30% here.


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The world of fine watchmaking includes giants whose production reaches a million watches a year, but also many brilliant watchmakers who are forging new paths. In addition, the sector includes watch enthusiasts and collectors, whose unbridled passion plays an important part in fuelling growth in the industry. Watchonista.com is a specialist site that brings this all together.
Watchonista, founded in 2009 in Switzerland, is right at the heart of the watchmaking industry. We asked Alexander Friedman, founder along with Marco Gabella, how he would define the website.
"Watchonista is created by passionate people and collectors. We want to group all the main players into a single platform: watch lovers, manufacturers, professionals, media, auction houses, and so forth. The platform provides information, exclusive content, news and insight, but also content aggregation. It provides an instant overview of the horological world."
Watchonista's partners include many of the largest and most famous brands. "However we also have a special place in our heart for independent watchmakers, whose creations are worthy of the general public's attention." We asked Alexander which industry trends he thinks are most interesting today.
"First, the new high-tech materials which are literally revolutionizing watchmaking. Secondly, with the new media available today, watchmakers and Manufactures who have something original to say can transmit their message worldwide, to a degree that never before has been possible." And Watchonista of course is a part of this.
For further information, visit: watchonista.com


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Illuminations #21, Shevat 5775, Parshat Mishpatim
Torah Gems
If one person sees another committing an immoral act, he is not allowed to testify against him because the Bet Din does not accept the testimony of one witness. Yet, our sages tell us (Pesachim 113) that the witness is permitted to rebuke the sinner for his lowly act until he repents.
But the Talmud (based on Shemot 23:5) tells us that if you are in a situation that you see two people, one is your close friend unloading his overburdened donkey and the other is the same person you rebuked trying to load his donkey, you should assist the person you rebuked!
From here the Alter of Slobodka learned a tremendous lesson from our Parasha. The reason you should help that person is so that you will remove negative feelings from your heart.
On one hand, the Torah tells us we should rebuke the person who acted immorally. On the other hand, the Torah tells us to offer him assistance and soften our feelings toward him. Moreover, we are directed to help him at the expense of our friend who has not sinned and is struggling to unload his donkey.
The Torah is concerned that the negative feelings that we are allowed to feel toward the sinner will spiral from an intellectual level to personal hatred. The entire purpose of the Torah is to purify us from any impurities . Therefore, sometimes we are instructed to abrogate mitzvot (rebuking a sinner, helping a righteous friend unload, bringing relief to a suffering animal), and perform mitzvot that we are not originally obligated to do (show love and kindness to someone we should rebuke), in order to overcome our negative impulse. Since the mitzvot were given in order to purify us, the mitzvot that are more likely to purify us take precedence over other mitzvot.
Parsha Pearls
In this week's Torah reading it says: "Do not afflict any widow or orphan (Shemot 22:21)." The Torah specifies widows and orphans because they are more delicate and vulnerable than others. However, this instruction is not limited to how we treat widows and orphans. Included in this pasuk, Rashi explains, is the admonition to be careful not to cause affliction to any human being.
Our sages tell us that the Romans were leading Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon to their execution. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Yishmael, "Rebbi, I feel disturbed because I don't know what sin warranted my death."
Rabbi Yishmael responded, "Was there ever an occasion when someone came to ask you for a ruling and you made them wait while you quickly attended to some personal need? The Torah warns us not to afflict another person, no matter how mild the affliction may be."
Rabbi Shimon said, "Rebbi, you have comforted my spirit."
How insistent the Torah is that we treat others with sensitivity! Rabbi Shimon felt that his death sentence was justified for causing someone slight anguish by making them wait a few moments.
We must be careful with every human being in every second and in every circumstance not to hurt or cause even the slightest pain.
Glimpses of Greatness
During Nissan 2009/5769, when Rav Elyashiv, zt"l was already in his centennial year and very weak, he was unable to give his shiur in Tiferes Bachurim, let alone answer questions from the public. Yet to everyone's surprise, he exerted himself to participate in a celebration in Binyanei Ha'uma in honor of the Chevron Yeshivah.
Even in his younger, healthy years, Rav Elyashiv did not frequent public gatherings. Why did he suddenly invest such intense efforts to attend this event?
One of the atendees of Rav Elyashiv's shiur mustered up the courage to ask him why he participated in this event.
"The gathering was for the purpose of supporting Torah," Rav Elyashiv explained, " and I wanted to take part in this mitzvah. The obligation to support Torah is so great that one must even endanger his life for it!"
The mitzvah of supporting Torah is not limited to donating money; it includes any act that inspires others to support Torah.
Even if Rav Elyashiv couldn't give a lot of money to the Chevron Yeshivah, he did not exempt himself from the obligation of supporting Torah.
Halacha Weekly
Q: Is it permissible to put up a mezuzah in a place where it might get stolen?
A: Halacha tells us that we are obligated to preserve and secure the sanctity of holy objects. So, if we placed a mezuzah in a location where it might be stolen, we are bringing it "Lidei Bizayon:" "into a position of being disgraced," since it could be vandalized. However, there is also the obligation we have to place a mezuzah where we live. In such a case where the mezuzah might be stolen, there are several options for a solution:
- One could make a hole in the side of the doorpost and place the mezuzah there, then cover it. It must still be clear, however, that there is a mezuzah there.
- One could place the mezuzah on the doorpost inside the house.
- If there is no room to do that, then one could place the mezuzah on the posts around the door even though the posts are not on the inner side of the door.
- If that is also not feasible, then one could place the mezuzah on the wall outside the doorpost, as long as it is within four inches of the doorpost.


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By J.D. Biersdorfer
New York Times
on August 18, 2014 - 12:01 AM
There are so many platforms for blogging out there.
Here are a few worth considering.
Start your search by thinking about the type of blog you want to have and how much control you want to have over the look and domain name.
Free blogging services usually have a set of standard templates and easy controls to get started, but the design is usually not terribly flexible.
Paid services often offer more design control, feature management and tools to block spam and other unwanted messages in the comments section.
If you are an artist or a photographer and want to quickly post about the things you see, a visually oriented platform like Tumblr may work best; Tumblr is free and has its own mobile apps for blogging on the go.
If you want to compose long and thoughtful essays, a blogging platform suited to longer writing and editing, like Medium, may be most useful. (While Medium has a mobile app for iOS, it is currently intended for reading material on the site rather than writing.)
Some platforms like Typepad and WordPress are flexible enough to handle either approach.
WordPress comes in two versions. One is the free WordPress.com site, which provides less customization but hosts the blog on its own servers and has its own mobile apps.
The other version is found at WordPress.org, where the WordPress blogging software (and apps for Android, BlackBerry and iOS) can be downloaded and used on someone else's servers. You have more control over the look and feel of the blog there. If you do not have your own server, the site has suggestions for hosting services.
Where the blog will live – on your server or someone else's – is another consideration, as is whether you want to use a free or paid platform.
Some free services, like Google's Blogger, make it easy to set up a basic blog, especially if you already use some of the company's other products, like Google Plus Photos.
Paid services like Squarespace may cost $8 a month or more, but you get technical support along with perks like search-engine optimization and slick designs that work for both desktop and mobile readers.