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SHARP Investigates Hospitalized Occupational Burns
Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Research for Safe Work
Work-related hospitalized burns are a significant public health concern, often resulting in severe long‑term physical, psychological, social and economic consequences. Gathering information on the kinds of burns and their risk factors is essential to develop strategies to identify, evaluate and promote effective interventions.
In 2000, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) initiated a hospitalized burns surveillance system. Our goal is to reduce the occurrence of future burns by providing information about these serious injuries and by encouraging interventions to identify and fix workplace hazards.
Recent funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has allowed SHARP to develop a series of educational materials. Our burn narratives are real-life cases of hospitalized burns resulting from common job tasks. Our burn injury fact sheets describe a specific hazard and a strategy to reduce it.
This SHARP Focus Newsletter provides an update of Washington's Hospitalized Burns Surveillance and links to hospitalized burn narratives and fact sheets.
From September 2000 through December 2005, 350 workers were hospitalized due to work‑related burns. About 90% were male and the average age was 37 years. Most of the workers sustained thermal burn injuries. However, electrical and chemical burns each accounted for 10% of the total. Workers with electrical burns tended to have more severe injuries. Twenty‑two workers were fatally injured either as a direct result of their burns or in conjunction with another injury.
The overall annual incidence rate was 24.5 hospitalized work‑related burns per million workers. The rate was higher for male workers. The highest risk category was workers between the ages of 22 and 24 years.
Most workers filed L&I workers' compensation claims. The average cost per claim exceeded $50,000, with an average of 135 lost workdays.
SHARP calculated industry rates to prioritize industries by the frequency and risk of hospitalized work‑related burn injuries. We then reviewed high‑risk industries to identify common injury scenarios. Based on these results, future research and prevention activities should be aimed at the following:
- Hot tar burns among roofers, including, but not limited to, the filling and transferring of buckets.
- Thermal burns from arc flash explosions and electrical burns from direct contact with electrical current among electricians working on or near energized equipment.
- Scald burns among cooks, other kitchen workers, and servers, particularly during the handling and transfer of containers of hot water, oil and other liquids and while working with and around deep fryers.
- Molten metal burns among foundry workers, particularly addressing burns to the lower extremity while filling and working with molds.
- Flame burns among scrap metal recycling workers, including those in which clothing ignites while welding or using cutting torches.
See the Work‑related burn injuries section on the SHARP publications page for the complete surveillance report, burn narratives and burn narrative fact sheets.
Contact SHARP for questions about the SHARP's work‑related burn program.


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Feis Calendar
Please note that the event times in the calendar are not indicative of the event timetable.
For travel & accommodation planning please consult the event organiser.
More event details on Facebook.
Please note that by registering for a WIDA event you are providing consent for WIDA to process your data
in accordance with the Data Protection Statement.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our worm farms handle our veggie wastes. The veggie scraps are slightly buried in a coconut coir bedding and the bacteria that break down the scraps are worm food.
The worms are fed to our chickens and our fish and placed under mulch around our trees and gardens. The worm poop is also some of the best fertilizer around. It is natures soon perfect fertilizer and the farm will help concentrate those goodies. We also have a free source of fishing bait for downtime and ice fishing!
Worms require some moisture in their bedding, but they are also very good at drowning themselves if you go with too much moisture.
Temperature also plays a critical role in the growth, reproduction, and survival of the worms. Worms generally slow down in cold temps, but they almost literally boil to death in warmer temps. Let them get too hot and your colony will be wiped out at once.
Red wrigglers are our preferred breed, but we do pick up a lot of earthworms from the yard in summer. The earthworms tend to dig deep holes that aerate soils well and transfer nutrients between upper and lower strata of the soil, while the wrigglers are surface feeders and tend to stay just below fallen leaves on the soils surface in the wild.


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Hi friends!
What light's you up, makes you glow and creates a rush of energy inside you when you think about it? That's the access to your flame. In our navel chakra we have a fire that burns with strength or weakness, depending on what we choose to feed ourselves. In the 3rd chakra, Manipura, representative of Will Power, it can be in balance or out of balance based on a number of things. In having a balanced health lifestyle, we can ingest nourishing foods, which create efficient digestion, allowing us to flourish in daily life. We can exercise a beneficial will power, by practicing setting appropriate boundaries with people or things that harm our well being. Also, we can find quiet time to listen to our source guidance, that voice that resonates beyond the chatter of the mind and reveals to us our inner flame, our essence.
Feeding your flame is something that requires daily practice and regular maintenance so that it continues to burn brightly. We can all sense people who live in harmony with their inner light. They have a contagious positive energy, a lightness of being and detached yet wise approach of relating to life events. We want to instantly be friends with them when we meet them and yet we are not sure why. They also have a rather mystical quality about them, a power you can feel but can't make sense of and know is genuine. When people who feed their flame for the good of humanity gather together, it's a swift lifting of consciousness. It's like watching someone flawlessly tending a fire, as if the fire were meant to effortlessly burn through the last chips of wood it has to offer, without any faltering. It reminds me of the bonfires we sat beside under the magnificent stars at night in India this January.
I have recently returned from leading my very first Yoga Adventure Tour through India and China and talk about feeding your flame. It was epic to say the least! The group of us that shared the mutual feeding of our flames was like a feeling of illumination beyond comprehension. There are so many moments that I could share in which this occurred. However, I will mention one that really stood out. As we went white water rafting, our guides had us stop right before a Grade 4 fierce rapid. We were instructed to go to shore and get off the raft, while they checked out the water level to see if it was possible to raft. There we were on shore, hanging out together already mentally synchronizing our will powers together. The water temperature this time of year in Holy Mother Ganges is quite an awakening to the body, should you end up floating down the river with the rest of nature. Lol. Anyhow, they came back and said that we could raft it but there would be an 80% chance we would flip our raft. Then, they asked us how good of swimmers we were and if anyone had any medical heart conditions they should know about. We are answered an adrenaline pumped" no" to the medical issues and "yes" to rafting our beast of a rapid. The guides prohibited us from talking as we approached the diverse monster walls of raging water. Together, we telepathically tuned in to each other's inner fire and to our amazement, we magically powered over the rapids.
Our guides were looking a little stumped by that outcome. It was such an incredible moment of feeding our fire and the victory of togetherness with nature that it's a lifelong memory for all of us! As we floated our beautiful candle lit offerings down the Holy Ganges that night, carrying our prayers during our Arati ceremony, it was very moving and touching. We were reminded at how precious it is to live fully from our spirit and allow it to take us into its mystical playground.
Another way to see feeding the fire is to see ourselves as living spiritually, through the eyes of our spirit and our soul. As many of you know, I have recently undertaken a huge leap of Faith in my life, after 12 years of living in San Diego. I've decided to pursue my dream of building my Yoga Vortex "Adventure Tours of the East" and part of that has guided me to Atlanta, Ga. It's a new chapter of an extraordinary life that I chose to live. In this walk of Faith, I am receptive to what lies ahead as I create from a place of trust and inspiration, feeding my flame. My next endeavor is to share more of the magic of the east with whoever feels called to take the adventure. Special thanks to my awesome Vedic Astrologer, Joe Moreno, for giving me the "golden light" guidance I was seeking. See right side of newsletter for more details on Joe.
Our next trip is tentatively planned for this Mar. 8th-Mar.23rd, a two week retreat. It is going to include North India, South India and China. The experiences created in this two weeks is like fireworks lighting up your heart and soul. As one traveler on tour so beautifully quoted, "India reminds you who you are." Going to China and seeing "The Forbidden City" was so incredible I feel like part of me is still there. 🙂 I would love to share what I have experienced as precious parts of my life with others!! I have enclosed a few pictures and the travel itinerary for your interest.
Wherever the flame takes you, may it be bright, strong and an illumination of your being. Namaste.
|In This Issue
|Adventues of the East
Adventures of the East Tour
Tentative dates listed
Cost includes flights, trains, accomodation, adventure activities & 2meals/day
Aprox $3500 for 2 weeks!!Space is LIMITED!
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com to reserve your spot soon!!
Fri. Mar 8th- Sat. Mar. 9th, 2013
Fly to New Delhi, India. YWCA
Sun., Mar. 10th, 2013
Rest, optional: Sight seeing in Delhi- Gandhi Memorial, Shopping, Lunch Connaugh Palace, YWCA
Mon. Mar. 11th, 2013
Breakfast, Train to Haridwar, Drive to Rishikesh, Hike to Camp Ganga Rivera, Bon Fire Dinner
Tues. Mar. 12th, 2013
Relax, Camp Activities – cliff jumping, badminton,and/or Yoga
Wed.. Mar. 13th, 2013
Day Hiking Himalayas trails/caves Optional: Enjoy Camp Ganga
Thurs. Mar. 14th, 2013
Half/full day trip -rafting on the Holy Ganges- epic fun! Or relax
Fri. Mar. 15th, 2013
Breakfast, Yoga /Thai Yoga Class, Train to Rishikesh. Scenic Hotel Great Ganga.
Sat. Mar. 16th, 2013
Explore Rishikesh, Ashrams, Shopping, Ayurveda Massage, Astrology, Indian Yoga Hotel GG.
Sun. Mar. 17th, 2013
Breakfast, travel from Rishikesh to Haridwar. (2hrs) Take train to Delhi (5 hrs).Dinner, YWCA.
Mon. Mar. 18th, 2013
Travel to Delhi airport. Fly to Goa. (4hrs) South India, exquisite beaches, White Negro Bch Resort
Tues. Mar. 19th , 2013
Explore Goa's culture, yoga, and festive lifestyle! Free time-resort.
Wed. Mar. 20th , 2013
Relax/party in Goa, take day adventure trips, or Beach Resort.
Thurs. Mar. 21st , 2013
Fly from Goa to Delhi, YWCA
Fri. Mar. 22nd , 2013
Visit Baha'i Lotus or Akshadharm Temple. (http://akshardham.com) Travel to airport. Flight to Beijing.
Sat. Mar. 23rd , 2013
-The Great Wall of China, Forbidden City or rest at airport. Depart Los Angeles. Arriving pm,
Looking for some shortcuts to HAVING WHAT YOU REALLY WANT?
Meet the amazing Astrologer
* Intuitive, * Wise,* Talented
Gifted Vedic Astrologer –
in high demand !!
Joe Loredo
(760) 845-8273
Is available by appointment.
* Mention Kam for best rate


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Westview Productions is an entertainment, energy, and immersive technology solutions firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado. We have a unique project process that encompasses all aspects of design that integrates with all construction trades to ensure a cohesive and seamless project experience.
Westview is an experienced leader in multi-scope trade work in high technology and durable, robust solutions. Our team helps ensure the outcome is exactly as originally intended by being actively involved in all phases of the project, including design, integration, installation, and service and support.
We have the global experience in lighting, motion control, audio and A/V systems, media, and architectural systems which gives us a uniquely advantage to provide comprehensive services as a sole solutions organization. Our diversified staff is comprised of experts in their respective fields, bringing high-quality, robust, professional experience to a palette of immersive environments.
At Westview we provide service to numerous markets such as: the entertainment industry, house of worship, corporate, academic, government, and hospitality. We are always operating with foresight and utilize custom-developed project techniques to ensure projects continue on schedule and within budget.


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About the Promotion
Pick your Prize with PlayNow! Enter for your chance to win a Home Theatre Package or Mobile Technology Package. Simply enter the promo code for the prize of your choice and log in daily for your chance to win! Plus there are four weekly prizes of $500 cold hard cash!


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Main Content
Tours of the Amalfi Coast
Tailor-Made Guided Tours, Private Mini-Van Tours, Hiking Tours and More
Book a Tour
Who Is Your Tour Guide?
This is the beginning of your magical journey.
My name is Paola Gargiulo and I am here to share with you the beauty of my country, Sorrento and its surroundings — Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Pompeii.
This is a land rich in history, art, archeology, nature. Come explore it with me and learn the secrets it has to offer.
Traditional Tours
You may choose classical tours, which have been attracting visitors since the Roman time, or you may opt for hiking tours with the aim to be surrounded by the enchanting landscape, or you may start surfing and... discover more!
Unconventional Tours
Join me on a tailor-made tour of Sorrento or your destination of choice in the surrounding area.


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Compulsive Gambling Help
Compulsive gambling is recognized as an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the consequences it creates in your life. Gambling has the potential to stimulate the reward system of the brain similar to the use of drugs and alcohol. The compulsive gambler continually attempts to chase bets, hide behaviors, deplete savings, accumulate significant debt, and engage fraud and theft to support the addiction.
The following are some of the most common signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling:
- Experiencing a "high" from taking a larger gambling risk.
- An overall preoccupation with gambling impairing social, work, and family responsibilities.
- Using gambling in a self-medicating manner as a way to cope with underlying personal issues.
- Lying about gambling and concealing whereabouts to "cover-up" gambling.
- Experiencing feelings of guilt or remorse after gambling.
- Regularly borrowing money and/or stealing to gamble.
- Recurrent unsuccessful efforts to cut back on gambling.
Compulsive gambling generally progresses over a period of time. Although many people may have the ability to enjoy social gambling, the compulsive gambler may find themselves gambling during periods of stress or depression, experiencing an uncontrollable urge to gamble. In many cases, the compulsive gambler becomes "intoxicated" by the excitement derived from gambling rather than the potential for financial gain.
If you or a loved one is suffering with symptoms of compulsive gambling, you are encouraged to reach out to one of our caring and knowledgeable CarePlanPro counselors for a complimentary, caring, and confidential consultation at 305-467-8666.


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|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 9/2/2005 19:55 (Entered as : 09/02/2005 19:55)
Reported: 9/2/2005 6:16:51 PM 18:16
Posted: 9/15/2005
Location: Steubenville, OH
Shape: Circle
Duration:15 minutes
|More than a shape, they looked like stars,flashing red, green and white. One was much larger than the other - both moving slowly in a north-east direction. They were not stars - we look almost nightly at the sky and have lived in this house for a total of 25 years. We are avid star-watchers and have been looking for the past month for Mars which was supposedly going to be near earth last month, but guess this event happened in 2003.


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In the News:
- Commentary: More professors needed to teach nursing students – The Philadelphia Inquirer (8/24 – An op-ed by Dr. Barbara Patterson, a distinguished professor and director of the Ph.D. program in the School of Nursing)
- Widener rolls out the red carpet for returning students – Delaware County Daily Times (8/24 – A story on Freshman Move-In Day at Widener. President Julie E. Wollman and students that volunteered were quoted)
- Move-In Day for Widener University Freshmen – WPVI-TV (ABC) (8/23 – President Wollman was interviewed about Freshman Move-In Day for the noon broadcast, which also aired during the 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock, and 6 o'clock broadcasts on 8/23 and the morning broadcast on 8/24. The segment also featured a number of students moving in)
- Freshman Move-In Day at Widener University was also featured during the live morning broadcast on KYW-TV (CBS) on 8/23; one of the interview clips with Denise Gifford, associate provost and dean of students, appeared on MSN.com and Yahoo!. Catherine Feminella, assistant dean for student development and engagement, and Terrell Boggans, a freshman, were all interviewed live during the segment. It was also mentioned during the morning news broadcast on 8/24.
- Members of Kappa Sigma were interviewed live on WXTF-TV (FOX) during Freshman Move-In Day on the morning news broadcast, a similar clip aired during the evening news. Members of the Men's Lacrosse team were interviewed about volunteering for move-in day on WCAU-TV (NBC) during the afternoon broadcast.
Athletic Update:


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Call us today 0800 5677850
Vintage style pastel pom poms by Talking Tables in three colours - light pink, peach and ivory. These paper pom poms will create that finishing touch to your celebration and wedding venue. Hang the pom poms from the ceiling or doorways or perhaps hang them onto the end of pews in place of flowers.
The pom pom measurements are: light pink is 15 inches diameter, peach is 12 inches diameter and ivory is 10 inches diameter. The pom poms are supplied with ribbon to hang them.


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my how the time does fly! 9 months is proving to be a lot of fun with this one. we've finally got her falling asleep all on her own, which is making a world of difference in our day to day. she's still just a 40 minute napper for the most part, which means this mama pretty much gets nothing done at all. hence me not being around here since her last monthly update. between keeping up with her, running my shop, and attempting to keep a clean house, there isn't much time left in the day for things like blog updates. but i've now found myself with a spare 15 minutes, so here i am!
we went down to atlanta this past weekend to spend a few days with my parents. for some reason i always get really home sick when the cooler weather rolls in. since having penny, it's been really hard with how much i wish i had some of my own family here. thankfully we have lots of evan's family here, but sometimes you just want your mom around! so off we went to georgia for the weekend. evan and i got spoiled with yummy food, and penny got spoiled with a little shopping spree with her grandma. i think they both rather enjoyed it! we're back home now though, getting our routine going again, and really enjoying that it's fall now. there are crunchy leaves on the ground, a pumpkin candle on our table, and i've got a hankering for soup all day every day. oh autumn, you made coming home so much more bearable!


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True Detective Season 2 Ep 8: The One Where Everybody Got F'd In The D, Especially Us/
What a colossal waste of time this season was, right folks? Can you believe we all spent over eight hours of our lives trying to keep track of an unnecessarily complicated mystery that never really got resolved? While we had high hopes for the not-so-grand finale of True D Season Terrible, it turns out things ended up no better than they started – irritating, hard to keep track of, and almost maliciously unsatisfying. Seriously, Nic Pizzolatto can fuck right off forever and always. Don't make us do this again.
Now we will determine who takes home the crown for Truest D. We sincerely hope this makes you feel a little better about sitting through the feature film length, steaming pile of bullshit that was "Omega Station".
Weekly Competitors
Colin Farrell (aka Det. Ray Velcoro) Kicked off this ep mumbling like he'd suffered 6-12 strokes since the last one. Was shot approximately one thousand times because he just had to visit his ungrateful, pizza-monster son. In his defense, he did manage to get a couple hits in during the shootout, but what does it even matter. He also loves Rachel McAdams but that also doesn't matter because fuck this show.
Vince Vaughn (aka Frank Semyon) Spearheaded a (probably) needlessly complicated mission to save his, Farrell's and McAdams' lives, so that was cool. Managed to massacre a lodge full o' rich pervs while keeping a supreme chill on. Got stabbed in the desert because he wouldn't give his (diamond-filled but, again, who cares) suit to one of the Mexican gangsters -- keep classy or die trying, right VV?
Taylor Kitsch (aka Officer Paul Woodrugh) Is still dead, gets a memorial highway for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
Rachel McAdams (aka Det. Ani Bezzerides) Kinda dropped the ball in this episode. Sure, she was one of the two survivors (the other being Jordan, Frank Semyon's wife) but fleeing the country and living through this mess only makes her D seem weaker. Who else wants to put money on Nic Pizzolatto's thought process re: this conclusion being something along the lines of, "Y'know, she's in love so she, like, chilled a bit and took orders from her dude so she survived. But, bro, is life worth living knowing you pussied out and totally missed that hardcore, dope shit Velcoro and Semyon went through? Naaaah! They died heroes, bro. Heroes." Yes, Pizzolatto – they're heroes. Just. Like. You.
Winner: VINCE "DADDY ISSUES" VAUGHN TAKES THE CROWN! Too bad he's dead and can't claim it.
Thank you for joining us on this long, painful and absolutely unrewarding journey, everybody. We promise the next show we choose will be either infinitively better, significantly worse or more or less of the exact same quality as True D, Season 2.


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"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." — Charles Darwin
Personally, I agree wholeheartedly. But love alone will not be enough to save the thousands of plant and animal species hovering on the brink of extinction. Only science can do that.
At San Diego Zoo Global, we have seen first hand that it is only through careful observation and experimentation that we approach the level of understanding needed to safeguard endangered species at the zoo, as well as successfully conserve them in the wild. Science plays a critical role in guiding our decision-making, and inevitably leads us to better and more sustainable long-term outcomes.
While zoo detractors may claim that animals do not seem "happy" under human care, this is a misdirected projection of our human values and perceptions onto other species that undoubtedly view the world vastly differently than we do. At San Diego Zoo Global, we are committed to an evidence-based approach that goes beyond personal opinions and perceptions.
Our animal care specialists, veterinarians and scientists continuously monitor the health and well-being of the species in our care through scientific data collection and analysis. We track everything from nutrition and health status to stress, reproduction, and social behavior. Whenever our research suggests that adjustments to an individual's environment is warranted, the outcome is carefully documented using the most advanced research tools available.
Last year, accredited zoos across the country came together to support the development of ZooMonitor, an innovative app that allows animal care managers and zoo researchers to constantly improve the welfare of the species in our care.
Ever since Dr. Kurt Benirschke, a pathologist at UCSD Medical Center, first envisioned a research department for the San Diego Zoo in 1972, we have dedicated ourselves to the science of saving species. One of the first challenges Dr. B's team faced was figuring out how to rear healthy Darwin's rheas with legs strong enough to support their growing bodies, a dietary problem solved only through scientific study.
Since then, we have continued to innovate and grow our laboratory-based efforts at what is now the San Diego Zoo Global Institute for Conservation Research.
In partnership with The Scripps Research Institute, we have embarked on an ambitious effort to apply cutting edge stem-cell technologies to rescue Africa's magnificent northern white rhino, down to just three living individuals, from imminent extinction.
Our Frozen Zoo, the world's largest and most diverse collection of vertebrate gametes and living cell lines, not only makes this work possible but also serves as an irreplaceable resource for science, with thousands of samples shared with investigators working on studies ranging from evolutionary biology to assisted reproduction to disease management.
The zoo's science team has grown to more than 200 researchers working in 35 countries around the world, and we are proud to have helped reintroduce more than 45 species of plants and animals back to the wild. But it is only because we have taken a scientific approach that our efforts have met with success.
As important seed dispersers, kangaroo rats play a key role in controlling erosion, maintaining native plant communities and helping to abate the impacts of wildfire.
Given that kangaroo rats are solitary by nature, group composition was thought not to be important when translocating these tiny ecosystem engineers from development sites into protected habitat.
Through careful study, our team learned that although kangaroo rats are territorial, they are well aware of who their neighbors are. Using meticulously designed experiments, we increased reproductive success more than 20-fold by maintaining the geometry of kangaroo rat neighborhoods at newly established sites.
Time and again, we find that when we use sound science to guide our decision-making, we ensure that our precious resources are invested in solutions that have maximum benefit for wildlife.
On Earth Day 2017, I am excited to be in Washington, D.C., participating with my colleagues at the Smithsonian Institution's inaugural Earth Optimism Summit, and the first-ever national March for Science.
Here in San Diego and across the country, passionate citizens and research professionals will be marching together to show their support. This is a day for people of all political persuasions to celebrate science and all it has to offer humanity in our ongoing quest for a healthy life on a thriving planet.
Alberts, Ph.D., is chief conservation and research officer, San Diego Zoo Global. Website: www.sandiegozooglobal.org


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From Revolution Community Yoga:
These days an increasing number of people are being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. But honestly who isn't stressed out and struggling with their emotions at times?? We are all under so much mounting pressure that it can be hard to figure out how to manage it and keep things together. Our culture encourages a "quick fix" attitude to dealing with emotions which includes taking medications (prescription or otherwise,) drinking alcohol, smoking pot or using other drugs, eating sugar/other unhealthy foods, shopping, gambling, etc. Over time these substances and behaviors can end up causing more problems which we are not prepared to handle.
If this sounds familiar (actually how could it not?) then help is on the way!! Come join us for a fun, interactive workshop that focuses on an integrative mind/body/spirit health model for healing. This 2 ½ hour workshop will focus on creating behavior change that includes the physical, emotional, environmental, nutritional and spiritual factors that lead us towards health and wellness. The workshop will be 75 minutes of presentation and one hour yoga practice to help ground the body and prepare us to take the next steps along the path of recovery. This workshop is perfect for anyone in recovery from substances or other related addictive behaviors, people who have lived or are currently living with someone struggling with addiction, or anyone who feels that they are ready to make a change in their life just need some extra support!
Registration and additional info at http://yogaacton.com/building-health-in-recovery/


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The New York Times has praised Domenica Ruta's memoir, With or Without You, as an "intensely philosophical memoir" and "a luminous, layered accomplishment."
Ms. Ruta graduated from Oberlin College and received her MFA degree from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a finalist for the Keene Prize for Literature and has been awarded residencies at Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony, the Blue Mountain Center, Jentel, and Hedgebrook.
The Austin Review first met Ms. Ruta at the Texas Book Festival, following a panel discussion she held with fellow Michener graduate Fiona McFarlane and moderated by Michener Director James Magnuson. Later that day, Ms. Ruta performed a reading for Austin's first Lit Crawl event and graciously agreed to the interview below.
The Austin Review: If you were reviewing your own work, how would you describe your style of writing?
Domenica Ruta: If Anne Carson and Euripides had a violent, transgressive affair, Domenica Ruta would be the deformed bastard of their poetic union. (By the way, I think my writing is nothing like Anne Carson, or Euripides. I was thinking in the realm of fantasy reviewers. Except reviewers don't exist in my fantasies, so . . .)
TAR: What contemporary authors excite you the most?
DR: I read two wonderful debut novelists this year, both discoveries from the Texas Book Festival, Fiona MacFarlane and Eric Lundgren. Fiona's prose is so crisp, and her novel The Night Guest is one of those miraculous plots that really builds sentence by sentence. Eric's first novel, The Facades, is a literary neo-noir, a genre that ordinarily wouldn't interest me, but I loved it. It was funny and ponderous, full of electric language and moments of startling beauty.
TAR: What classics do you most identify with and why?
DR: The ancient mythologies of any culture, though I'm partial to the Greeks, mostly because I'm lazy and they are the most accessible. Myths are portals to the world beyond this one, where all the magic of creation exists. It's as close as someone like me can get to the holy or the eternal without stepping into a monastery, where I have no business being.
TAR: Do you see the rise of ebooks and the decline of print as beneficial or harmful to writers today?
DR: It's a new interface, that's all. The medium does not change the message. If writers are worried about losing audiences, they need to write better books, more engaging, exciting, affecting stories. I ride the NYC subway all the time and it's about fifty-fifty, ebooks to paper books. Most people are playing Candy Crush or re-reading old texts from their friends and enemies. That's what we have to compete with: blissed out geometrical flow and the haikus of love and hate. So sharpen your swords and get to work, writers!
TAR: How extensively do you edit or rewrite?
DR: I am a terrible draftsman but a pretty good editor. I'd say 90% of my style, whatever that means, does not emerge until rewrites. The first draft is an assembly of materials. It's like going to the grocery store, lugging home the heavy bags, then dumping it all out on the kitchen table. It's a mess, inedible. The second through one-millionth draft is where things come together for me.
TAR: What qualities do you believe make for the best editor?
DR: It is entirely personal, and dependent on the work. An editor might be perfect for one writer but not another, or see with perfect clarity one book by a particular writer, but not her next book. An editor is someone who fundamentally gets what the writer is trying to do and asks the right questions of the author that inspire him to find the answers, find the edits himself. I've only ever had one editor, the brilliant Cindy Spiegel, and that is just what she did. At first I was disappointed. I expected my manuscript to come back to me bloodied by red pen excisions and marginalia. Not at all. She trusted me to make the changes myself, offered her perspective, was thoughtful and respectful. It was a wonderful arrangement.
TAR: What role do you think literary magazines play today? Are they—like newspapers—a species in decline?
DR: Literary magazines are insider trade publications. They are for other writers more than non-writing readers. I think the strong will survive. Starbucks put a lot of little coffee shops out of business, but the ones who are still standing did so because they were adaptable and committed to their unique branding. Look around Austin and you'll see evidence of this everywhere. So it is with lit mags.
TAR: What is the next book you plan to read? Are you a one-book-at-a-time person?
DR: I'm a two-sometimes-three-at-a-time person. I usually have one non-fiction book and one novel or poetry collection going, for a well-balanced diet. Next in my lineup is Mary Roach's Packing For Mars and Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses.
TAR: What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?
DR: I have four different monographs on prostitutes and three graphic novels by Alan Moore. This doesn't surprise me at all, but sometimes visitors raise an eyebrow.
TAR: What book have you always meant to read and never gotten around to yet? Or, what do you feel embarrassed never to have read?
DR: I've never read Rushdie, which I am redressing as soon as this interview is done. I've never read Paradise Lost, either, which seems like something I should have done in college, and now I just don't care anymore.
TAR: What was your favorite thing about attending the Michener Center? About living in Austin?
DR: I loved hanging out with writers at the bar after class, playing our nerdy word games, talking passionately about books. I miss everything about Austin, except the month of August.
TAR: Any advice to writers who are considering enrolling in an MFA program?
DR: Do NOT go into debt for an arts degree! Everything you need to learn about the writing process you can read in The Paris Review interviews, and everything else you can and will learn best by reading and writing as much as you can, then getting yourself into a lot of trouble and putting yourself back together as many times as you can stand. If you are enrolling in an MFA program, a funded one like UT is the way to go.
TAR: Is it harder to read reviews of your memoir because, indirectly, commentary involves not only your writing, but also aspects of your life?
DR: I was disappointed by how little reviewers talked about my actual writing. Most reviews read to me like elaborate summary. Maybe they were going easy on me or maybe my book just didn't inspire trenchant criticism. I don't know. Before the book was published, I made the executive decision to completely detach from all responses, good and bad. It would be overwhelming to the point of crippling if I took everything to heart, because I am both the protagonist and the author. The author Nick Flynn gave me some good advice, adapted from his wife, the actress Lili Taylor. It was that most readers aren't really seeing you, or, more accurately, the memoir portrait of you. They are seeing a projection of themselves and their families and their decisions, either set in opposition or in relation to you. So I don't take anything a reviewer says about my family or me personally because responses say much more about the responder than the person or work they are responding to.
TAR: When you think of Austin, what comes to mind?
DR: Prickly pear and creative homeowners making art out of trash and tacos and I Heart Video and Wheatsville and Ginny's Little Longhorn and live oak genuflecting to the earth and pecan trees and heat so hot I once hallucinated at the bus stop. I miss that town. There's no place quite like it.


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07 02 2014
By Andy
Photos: © Impressionen
Found here…
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Andy is the master of "Geekism", who lives and loves the online world and of course, he adore Star Wars, Video Games, TV-series like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad etc. like you expect it.Furthermore he loves to surf around the web and collects these special Nerd Things spread it to all other Geeks, cool Guys and everbody else.
Every illustrator, graphic designer, photograph and artist who make artworks with the perfect "Geek touch" will be featured on the thaeger blog and presented to a bigger audience and maybe get more fame.
If you be such an artist or do you you know let us know and feel free to contact us via contact form. Andy is looking to hear from you and welcome you in the world of Geek Stuff and Nerd Things.
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Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler: What Each Man Needs To Do To WinApril 22, 2010
Carl "The Cobra" Froch
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Resides: Nottingham, England
Age: 32
Height: 6' 1"
Reach: 74 1/2"
Current World Titles Held: WBC Super Middleweight (168 lbs.)
Former World Titles Held: None
Professional Record: 26-0, 20 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 3-0, 1 KO
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 5-0
Record at 168 lbs.: 17-0
Notable Wins: SD12 Andre Dirrell , TKO12 Jermain Taylor , UD12 Jean Pascal
"The Viking Warrior" Mikkel Kessler
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Resides: Monaco
Age: 31
Height: 6' 1"
Reach: 73"
Current World Titles Held: None
Former World Titles Held: WBC, WBA Super Middleweight
Professional Record: 42-2, 32 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 8-2, 6 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 4-1
Record at 168 lbs.: 26-2, 22 KOs
Notable Wins: UD12 Librado Andrade, KO3 Markus Beyer, UD12 Anthony Mundine
Notable Losses: TD11 Andre Ward , UD12 Joe Calzaghe
There was a little scare for a couple of days thanks to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, but Mikkel Kessler will host Carl Froch in his native Denmark in the second bout for both fighters in the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
It will be the first time two of the European boxers in the tournament face each other and should be the subject of great interest for fans all over the continent.
Momentum doesn't always mean much in the sweet science, but Froch has plenty of it and the confidence that goes along with it after beating Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell in 2009.
What he does isn't always pretty, but he has an uncanny knack for figuring out ways to win even when things aren't going this way, plus he possesses the type of power that cane be ignored.
Kessler is a hard hitter as well, but he's searching for answers after getting soundly out-boxed by Andre Ward last November. Since he has trouble with quicker, more mobile opponents, hes no doubt relishing the chance to face someone who may stand in front of him a little more often.
Though the combined KO percentages of the two fighters might suggest that someone will end up looking at the lights, a stoppage may be easier said than done.
Kessler's two career losses both came via decision, and Froch picked himself off the mat in Round 3 of his bout with Taylor and ended up delivering a scintillating late knockout of his own.
Still, this pairing promises to deliver the type of two-way action that hasn't been all that common in the Super Six to this point.
It would not be a surprise to see some bombs landing in both directions, and the fight should have a decent chance of living up to the expectations of Kessler promoter Kalle Sauerland, who has called it "the biggest boxing fight in Danish history."
Froch's Winning Strategy: Keep Moving, But Don't Be Afraid to Make It Ugly
The Ward fight showed that for all of Kessler's skill and power, he is very limited in terms of his lateral movement. Froch is a better athlete than some give him credit for, so it's quite possible he'll have learned a few things from that fight that he can use.
But Froch isn't Ward, and Kessler is well-schooled in boxing fundamentals. The Cobra handled himself just fine when Dirrell made things rough (some would say dirty) on the inside, so he shouldn't hesitate to make it that kind of fight when Kessler does track him down.
The mental aspect of the fight suggests another reason for Froch to make it an ugly fight. Carl is one of the most self-confident boxers around, and he's not likely to panic if the fight doesn't go according to plan.
No one knows if Kessler can say the same. There aren't any style points in boxing, and Froch not only understands that fact, he can thrive on it.
Kessler's Winning Strategy: Have a Short Memory
Many observers had Kessler as no worse than co-favorite to win it all when the Super Six began. His reputation took a bit of a hit against Ward, and now the most important thing he can do is focus on what he does well instead of going crazy trying to make changes.
Kessler's strengths are body punches and uppercuts, both of which are set up by an above-average jab. Froch can move a bit, but Kessler should be able to track him down often enough to let his hands go on some combinations.
It's more likely that Kessler just ran into a boxer whose physical gifts and fighting style proved to be the wrong combination for him than it is that he was somehow "exposed" by Ward.
He has more experience than Froch and gave a prime Joe Calzaghe a difficult night less than three years ago.
The Viking Warrior needs to recall more of what he did to rack up 42 career victories than the way he floundered last time out. If he can do that, he has an excellent chance to bounce back and hand Froch his first loss.
Nick Tylwalk is the editor and co-founder of BoxingWatchers.com . Follow his Twitter feed @Nick_Tylwalk or the site's feed @boxing_watchers .


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Date(s) - 28/09/2018
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Add to calendar:
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Link to Event
Chroma Yoga
Meditation Relaxation
Event Tags: Meditation Old Street
A modern way to meditate.
Ganzsound class merges colour gradients and soundscapes to induce a deep state of relaxation. Using Beats By Dre Studio3 Headphones with advanced noise cancelling technology, this teacher-less class will allow you to dive deep into an immersive, modern meditation experience.
Inspired by the 'Ganzfeld effect', a form of perceptual depravation that causes the brain to amplify neural noise in order to search for the missing sensory signals it's so used to, the visual component of this class plays with concepts of colour perception, lucid dreaming and synesthesia.Composed by Heloise Tunstall-Behrens, the soundscape uses rhythmic low frequencies which entrain the oscillatory activity of neurons in the brain to the alpha range, stimulating relaxation, internal focus, creative thinking and visualisation. The higher harmonics transport us to the celestial realm whilst affecting cell regeneration in the organs connected to the ears via the vagus nerve. Walk in, get comfortable and begin your journey into the Ganzsound.
Meet the Chroma Yoga Founder Nina Ryner
By bringing together ancient healing practises with new and innovative modern technology, Nina's passion for the future of wellness is the driving force behind the unique experience that ChromaYoga offers.
Taking inspiration from the interactive art installations of James Turrell, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Veronica Ann Janssens and Olafur Eliasson and fusing this with her ideas about futuristic fitness – ChromaYoga was born.


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The Mighty Oak award is given annually to one female and one male club member in recognition of anything that they may have achieved or done throughout the year i.e. returned from injury, raised a great amount for charity or been a great all round member of the club.
Committee Nominations
Bill Griffiths; good all round long term member, runs, marshals and sponsors races.
Chris Walden: good all round member, club committee, runs, marshals and raises money for charity of year.
Antony Evans: runs in many races and raised an exceptional amount of money for Marches Family Network.
Sally Ware : good all round member, club committee, runs and marshals at many races, helped start a beginners group.
Laura Tootell : Outstanding race performances this year winning the Muddy Woody 6 , Hereford Marathon and Super 8 series.
Kelly Rose : runs in many club races and promotes Wye Valley Runners. Organised run & meal events from Burghill golf course.
Voting Forms will be available at the AGM alternatively you can email your vote to firstname.lastname@example.com.
The awards will be presented at the Christmas Party on Saturday 13th December 2014.


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The abandoned wooden pavilion has become a unique feature in the forest. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
The charming lake view. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
One of the entrances in front of the secondary school at PJU 10. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
Kota Damansara Community Forest has been gazetted as a permanent forest reserve. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
The second entrance in front of De Rozelle condominium. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
Take care of our environment. Do not throw the rubbish into the river! Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
The pavilion in front of the school has become a rest stop for hikers. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
PETALING JAYA: Kota Damansara Community Forest located at PJU 10 is recognised as the only green lung of Kota Damansara. Under the eight-year effort of the Friends of Kota Damansara, it was finally gazetted as a forest reserve in March this year, and the news has pleased the local residents as well as hikers.
Friends of Kota Damansara has planned to set up a "herb garden" in the forest to add more fun to the forest reserve.
A family park
However, due to relatively huge cost involved in upgrading the park's facilities, the Friends of Kota Damansara intends to work with the MBPJ in order to set up a recreational forest suitable for the entire family as well as cycling enthusiasts.
Friends of Kota Damansara is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) initiated by about 20 resident associations as well as environment groups to ensure that the forest is utilised in a proper way such as for recreation, education and research.
Vice president of Friends of Kota Damansara, Peng Fa Huang said during an interview with Sin Chew Daily that the concept of the herb garden was still in its infancy, however he believed it would be implemented soon.
Facilities for the disabled
According to him, the herb garden would be set up near a man-made lake, and would be planted with different types of Chinese herbs for hikers to visit and appreciate.
The organisation has also planned to install some facilities for the disabled so that they can also experience the glamour of nature when visiting the park.
Paradise for retirees
Many retirees would step into the forest on a daily basis, and these people have almost become the unofficial "tourist guides" for the forest park.
These elderly visitors are looking for alternative adventures after their long career lives in a bid to add some excitement and colours to their otherwise monotonous life after retirement.
Apart from that, mountain biking is also another form of challenging activity that has lured many enthusiasts to conquer the rugged terrain of the forest park.
Two major entrances
There are two major entrances to the Kota Damansara Community Forest: one in front of the secondary school at PJU 10 and the other via a small access road in front of De Rozelle condominium. As the entrances are not prominently marked and there are no indication signs erected, first-time visitors may often lose their ways.
Hikers are advised to select either of the entrances as starting point and the other as the ending point of their journeys. Since the two entrances are almost 2km apart, hikers are required to walk quite a longer distance in order to get back to their vehicles.
Of copurse, hikers can also arrange with their partners to park their cars near the two entrances to avoid having to walk a longer distance after their hiking adventure.
Mr Zhang, a retiree, said hiking had become a part of his day-to-day life for the past two years, and he was very familiar with the major trails, which have been set up by the Friends of Kota Damansara to facilitate the hikers, as well as smaller off-the-beaten tracks in the forest park.
Zhang added that it usually took him about two hours to hike through the forest. He admitted that he had yet to see any wild animal except some monkeys in the forest.
Fresh air
It normally takes about 45 minutes to reach the hill top along the tracks.
When we step into the forest, the fresh air and the chirping of birds will cheer up and reinvigorates our minds.
Hikers could enjoy the peace and tranquility inside the forest as well as the sight of various species of plants in it.
Coming out from the forest, hikers can take on the rock benches at the sidewalk while appreciating the charming artificial lake that was established in 2000 and has since become a major landmark in the forest. (Translated by LIM LIY EE/Sin Chew Daily)


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O.K., you: put away that article about 2016/Hillary/Benghazi/Monica Lewinsky/Rand Paul/Rick Perry, and listen up. The Congressional midterms are less than six months away, and this stuff is important. Who would you rather have running the Senate? Mitch ("Let's make Obama a one-term President") McConnell or Harry ("Sheldon Adelson's not such a bad guy") Reid? Even if you'd rather not answer that question, you need to pay attention. At some point in the next few months, somebody is going to ask you this question: Does Mary Landrieu, Kay Hagan, or Michelle Nunn have the better chance of winning? And you'd better have something to say.
Here, then, is a bluffers' guide to the over-all contest, the key races, the latest polling data, and the big unknowns. (Next week, I'll follow up with a post on the models behind the forecasts.)
The Big Picture: Thirty-six Senate seats will be contested on Tuesday, November 4th. Thirty-three of them are on the normal six-year reëlection cycle, and there are special elections in Hawaii, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Almost all of the political professionals—the strategists, campaign officials, pollsters, and pundits who feed handsomely off all the cash that gets burned in political campaigns—believe that the basic story line has already been set. This is going to be a bad year for Democrats. The only question is: how bad?
Midterms usually turn out unfavorably for the incumbent party, and this year there are two time-specific factors favoring the Republican challengers: a friendly political map and an unpopular President with an approval rating in the low forties. As recently as last fall, when the G.O.P. was languishing in the polls following the government shutdown, some Democrats dared to dream that they could pick up the seventeen seats they need to take control of the House of Representatives. But the troubled rollout of Obamacare dashed these hopes, and Democrats are now fighting a rearguard action to hold on to the Senate, where they currently have a majority of fifty-five votes to forty-five. To take control, the Republicans need a net gain of just six seats.
Greatly aiding the G.O.P.'s prospects is the fact that this is 2014. This means that almost all of the Senate candidates seeking reëlection were voted in in 2008, when there was a big swing to the Democrats; a number of their candidates were victorious in states that traditionally vote Republican. Consequently, there are now seven Democratic seats being contested in states that went for Mitt Romney in 2012: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia. The only Republican senator facing reëlection in a state that voted for President Obama over Romney is Susan Collins, of Maine, and her popularity is such that she is almost certain to win.
This imbalance augurs poorly for Democrats. The Party is facing serious challenges in Iowa and Michigan, where Tom Harkin and Carl Levin, two stalwarts, are retiring, and in Colorado, where Senator Mark Udall is up for reëlection. The Democrats' best hopes of picking up one or two Republican seats appear to be in Georgia, where Nunn, the daughter of Sam Nunn, the longtime Peach State senator, is their candidate, and in Kentucky, where McConnell is up for reëlection and facing a strong challenge.
The Individual Races: When you put all of these races together, you get the dozen battleground states for 2014: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Election day is still a long way off, and most voters aren't paying much attention. But this hasn't stopped the political admen from bombarding them with television and radio spots or the pollsters from doing their surveys. Here, then, is how the individual races look:
Alaska: Senator Mark Begich, the incumbent Democrat, was elected by fewer than five thousand votes in 2008, and he faces a couple of serious Republican challengers in Mead Treadwell, the state's lieutenant governor, and Dan Sullivan, a former state attorney general. Early polls suggest that it will be another tight race, and Begich's best hope may be that Joe Miller, an outspoken Tea Party candidate who, in 2010, challenged Lisa Murkowski, the state's Republican senator—and who has the support of Sarah Palin again this year—gets the Republican nomination. The G.O.P. primary is not until August, which also might help Begich.
Arkansas: Democrat Mark Pryor, whose father also represented the state in the Senate, is seeking a third term, and many analysts think it will be an uphill battle. His opponent is Tom Cotton, an ambitious young Republican congressman whose résumé includes Harvard Law School and the U.S. Army. Both sides have already started running negative advertisements, and the latest poll, from Public Policy Polling, suggests that they are neck and neck. As in other red Senate battleground states, the Democratic candidate is being handicapped by Obama's unpopularity. Among undecided voters, according to the P.P.P. poll, the President's approval rating is just thirteen per cent.
Colorado: In 2008, Udall defeated his Republican opponent by nine points. Given the power of incumbency and the fact that, in 2012, Obama defeated Romney handily in the state, he was widely expected to coast home this year. It isn't turning out that way. Cory Gardner, a Republican congressman who has been a big supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline—a big issue in the West—is mounting a strong challenge, and a series of polls have showed him within a few points of Udall. The latest poll, from Quinnipiac University, showed Udall with forty-five per cent of the vote and Gardner with forty-four per cent. Reflecting the concerns on Udall's side, his campaign recently launched a series of television ads highlighting Gardner's anti-abortion-rights positions.
Georgia: The race to replace Republican Saxby Chambliss, who announced his resignation from the Senate last year, is a doozy. On the Republican side, at least four candidates still to have a chance in a crowded primary, set for May 20th: the conservative businessman David Perdue; Paul Broun, a congressman who has described evolution and the Big Bang theory as "lies straight from the pit of hell"; Jack Kingston, a somewhat more moderate congressman; and Karen Handel, a former senior state official. Michelle Nunn, the Democratic candidate, has run a number of voluntary organizations, including Points of Light, which has ties to the Bush family. This is her first political campaign, and she's already been subjected to negative ads from Republican groups. The latest polls show her tightly matched against the G.O.P. candidates.
Iowa: Until recently, Bruce Braley, the Democratic congressman and former trial lawyer who is seeking to take Tom Harkin's seat, was the strong favorite. Then a Republican group found some footage of him, speaking at a fundraiser, describing Chuck Grassley, the state's Republican senator, as "a farm boy from Iowa who never went to college." In a state full of farmers, that was enough to put Braley on the defensive. Joni Ernst, an ultra-conservative state senator who carries a gun in her purse and boasts about castrating hogs growing up on a farm, has picked up on the comments. So has Mark Jacobs, the former chief executive of a Texas energy company, who appear to be Ernst's main rival in the June 3rd G.O.P. primary.
Kentucky: If the Democrats spring a surprise this year, it might be by defeating Mitch McConnell. In the upcoming G.O.P. primary, the Senate Minority Leader is expected to accomplish stage one of his survival plan, by defeating Matt Bevin, a businessman who is supported by the Tea Party and who has been subjected to relentless attacks by McConnell's campaign. But McConnell will then have to face Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky's young and telegenic secretary of state. The thirty-five-year-old Grimes is the daughter of the former chairman of the Democratic Party in Kentucky, which controls most of the top state offices, including the governorship. She's raised more than seven million dollars in campaign donations, and, according to two polls carried out in April, she's running just about level with McConnell. McConnell, a five-term senator who went to Washington in 1985, must still be the favorite, but it's an intriguing race.
Louisiana: Like Pryor in neighboring Arkansas, Mary Landrieu, the three-term Democratic senator, faces a tough contest in a state where white voters are now largely Republican and President Obama is unpopular. Outside of New Orleans, the Democrats don't have a single congressional seat. But Landrieu is a formidable politician, and she is running on her own platform. She's embraced Obamacare, supported the Keystone pipeline, and portrayed herself as a dogged fighter for Louisiana. In the polls, she is narrowly trailing her Republican opponent, U.S. congressman Bill Cassidy (no relation!). If she's going to win, she will need a big turnout from Louisiana's black voters, who make up almost a third of the electorate.
Michigan: The Democrats have held this seat since 1979, when Carl Levin won office. They have a strong candidate in Congressman Gary Peters, who represents Michigan's fourteenth district, which is carved out of Detroit's suburbs and also includes Hamtramck. However, the G.O.P. also has a credible candidate: Terri Lynn Land, a former secretary of state for Michigan who has been a member of the Republican National Committee. Two recent polls show Peters leading Land by five points. But in Michigan, as elsewhere, a lot will depend on turnout. In 2010, when the Tea Party was rampant, the Republicans did very well. But in 2012, when there was a big minority vote, Obama carried the state by ten points. Both sides have already raised a lot of money and put up a lot of ads. According to Nolan Finley, of the Detroit News, total spending in this race alone could eventually reach fifty million dollars.
Montana: Democrat Max Baucus was in the Senate for almost as long as Levin, turning his seat into a stronghold for Democrats in the mountain West. Since Baucus retired, last year, to become the U.S. Ambassador to China, it has looked like Republicans might win in November. Neither party has held its primary yet, but the leading Republican candidate, Congressman Steve Daines, has a lead in the polls over the top Democrat, John Walsh, the former lieutenant governor, who was appointed to finish up Baucus's term. In a recent survey by CEA/Hickman Analytics, Daines led Walsh by thirteen points in a head-to-head matchup. Montana voters are hard to predict, however. In 2012, they went for Romney over Obama by thirteen points, and simultaneously reëlected a Democrat, Jon Tester, to the Senate.
North Carolina: In one of this year's most closely watched contests, Democratic Senator Kay Hagan will face Thom Tillis, a Republican moderate who, earlier this week, successfully defeated a Tea Party challenger. In 2008, Hagan exploited a large minority turnout to defeat Elizabeth Dole. Getting a similar turnout this year will be a challenge. One recent poll showed Hagan and Tillis tied with each other; another had Hagan leading, but only by two points. Tillis's victory in the G.O.P. primary, against an opponent who had the backing of Rand Paul, was a boost to the Republican establishment, which sees North Carolina as a key to taking the Senate.
South Dakota: The race for the seat vacated by Senator Tim Johnson, who is retiring, is looking good for the Republicans. Mike Rounds, the former G.O.P. governor, is widely expected to win his primary, which will be held on June 3rd. According to an early poll, Rounds already has a twenty-point advantage over the leading Democratic candidate, Rick Weiland, a longtime aide to Tom Daschle, the former senator. However, that poll was carried out some time ago, and it's not clear whether the G.O.P.'s big lead is holding up. With Rounds raising a lot of money, Weiland is trying to make campaign-finance reform a major issue, but he faces an uphill battle.
West Virginia: Jay Rockefeller's decision to retire gives Republicans a good chance of picking up a Senate seat in the Appalachian state for the first time since the nineteen-fifties. At the Presidential level, West Virginia has been trending Republican, and President Obama's approval ratings there are some of the lowest in the country. The leading candidates to replace Rockefeller are both women. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito is the daughter of a two-time Republican governor, Arch Moore, and she's established a solid enough record in the House of Representatives, where she's been since 2000. There hasn't been much public polling, but according to a Rasmussen survey carried out months ago she has a double-digit lead over Democrat Natalie Tennant, West Virginia's secretary of state. Tennant is running as a fiscal conservative, and she's been campaigning with Senator Heidi Heitkamp, who won a surprise victory in North Dakota in 2012. If she wins, it will be an even bigger surprise.
The Unknowns: Each race is local. Obviously, though, national conditions impinge on the vote. Here are three factors that will certainly play a role. How big of a role is much less clear.
The President: In the latest Gallup tracking poll, Obama's approval rating is forty-four per cent. That's up a bit from the lows it reached following the botched rollout of Obamacare, but it's still a big negative for Democratic candidates. Even if they support his policies, many of the Democratic candidates in the blue states aren't inviting Obama to campaign with them openly. If the recent uptick in Obama's approval ratings turns into a sustained rally, this could change. For now, though, the President will remain largely offstage.
Obamacare: In many parts of the country, Republicans are making a big issue of their opponent's support of the Affordable Care Act. According to the Real Clear Politics poll of polls, fifty-two per cent of Americans oppose the A.C.A. and forty-one per cent support it. The news that more than eight million people have signed up for health insurance through the online exchanges doesn't seem to have shifted public opinion. However, the issue doesn't cut just one way. A majority of Americans also oppose the Republican position that the A.C.A. should be repealed. And, in states such as Louisiana and Arkansas, where the Democratic candidates need a big turnout of the Party's core voters to have any chance of winning, the popularity of health-care reform in minority communities could help them.
The economy: Until now, the lacklustre recovery has been helping Republicans. In a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll, a remarkable seventy-six per cent of respondents said they believe the economy is still in a recession. The experts tell us that the Great Recession ended in June, 2009. And, during recent months, the rate of hiring has been picking up and the unemployment rate has fallen to 6.3 per cent. Most analysts, myself included, think the economy will show pretty strong growth through the summer and fall.
That should help the Democrats. The question is whether it will come too late to turn around public sentiment. Most political analysts think it will—and that's another reason they are bullish on the Republicans' prospects.
Read more analysis and commentary at our 2014 midterms hub.


text: When you think of Poland, it surely comes to your minds, Warsaw or Krakow. Of course, these are the two most popular cities in this country. However, I opted to go to another city, very quiet, beautiful and known for its University; I'm talking about Wroclaw (Breslavia). To get to Wroclaw, you can take a…Read More


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Pluto Gets to Work
Pluto in the Capricorn SeasonLast December when the Sun met with Pluto euphoria was in the air and wishes were freshly minted with hope just in from the horizon. This year we're two Jupiter-Neptune conjunctions wiser and the cosmic digger is ready for serious business with Saturn intimately involved. Change has occurred if not exactly what some had anticipated. So far I've found this holiday season to be one of the weirdest I've ever been in. A magnetic distraction seems to have gripped society's psyche, although some are dutifully recalling the Baby Jesus and purchasing commodities as well as can be expected.
The Veil Dissolves
Jupiter Conjunct Neptune
So it came to pass. Collective illusions so diligently maintained have melted away revealing just how corrupt and ill-behaved our political officials really are. It's difficult to miss. An excellent study in how they operate. The stabbing, bribing, stealing, and most of all -- lying -- have aligned to expose the plutocracy in action with its unattractive appetite for power creating a depressing drama available in each and every home for the pleasure of the viewing audience. The pecking keys are certainly registering the alarm.
People are angry with the government. The battle is on. It always is, really. This one can be classified in the "war of necessity" category. The Saturn-Uranus-Pluto days are as good as here and it's getting time to consolidate and mobilize. The disease in the system demands a cure. The promised unity does appear to be happening after all but not quite for the reasons predicted.
This is the initial breakdown phase of Pluto in Capricorn dealing with group finances versus personal. The current administration was designated to facilitate the demolition before reconstruction can begin. Everything they touch is turning to disaster, magically illustrated by the 29 Scorpio Moon of the inuagural chart.
This drama was played out for the people to recognize the technique of their political office holders. The spin has spun out of control and now the truth is emerging from the wreckage, just the thing they thought they could forever cover up. "The truth will out," it's said, and I tend to believe it. "You lie" covers a lot of yous.
The punishment of Saturn-Pluto can seem brutal and everyone is due to get some of it, for virtually none of us is innocent. It's amazing to feel the rage surfacing and there's going to be a lot more, especially when Uranus gets its revolutionary fire. Group movement like this comes from within the body politic and not much can stop it. Pocket picking will arouse almost anyone. Price gouging has its pitfalls. Money issues have hair triggers.
So the breakdown is upon us. It's far from reform. There's nothing to reform. What's happening now is a panicked attempt to medicate the sickness with impotent measures, trying to keep the entity functioning. The system needs a doctor. And I don't think its covered in a plan.
I've actually been impressed with some of the bloggers lately. Their wits are being sharpened and probably being refined and tooled for the battles ahead. Some of the unsatisfying personal infighting is turning into fine debate. It could get stimulating.
So on this Jupiter-Neptune celebration of religious saviors, aside from the gifts generously offered by the magi, human creatures have engaging challenges ahead that are garnering attention. I'm interested in following the story.
Painting: Suspended Power: Charles Sheeler


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It's something we've seen some of our most stylish friends doing lately, whether they're dressed up or down.
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Constance is wearing our Eyelet Nightbreeze Dress and Thistle Layering Necklace.
Shop our entire assortment of jewelry here and see more style tweaks we've noticed here.
Photography by Angi Welsch.


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The Dai Becks of the Valleys
David Beckham. Lee Trundle. Separated at birth? Welcome to IBWM, Mark Pitman.
Lee Trundle completed a £1m transfer from Swansea City to Bristol City in the summer of 2007. At the same time David Beckham was embarking on his first season in Major League Soccer as the leagues biggest-ever signing. While Beckham now cuts an established figure in LA ahead of the new season, Trundle is preparing for the second part of his debut campaign in the Welsh Premier League following a Beckham-style arrival in the summer that put the much-criticised national league in the spotlight.
For two national leagues either side of the Atlantic this is an important time of the year. Both of these leagues struggle for media attention in nations that do not generally accept football or soccer as the national game but both are striving to make continued progress and build on the encouraging foundations that have developed and strengthened since their respective births in the 1990's. For Major League Soccer in the United States read the Welsh Premier League in Wales. Both are young and emerging competitions but this year share even more in common than ever before as they enter a very important time in their respective calendars.
Nothing brings more media attention to a national league than a high-profile signing. More importantly, bringing in a player of undeniable quality at a time in his career when he is still able to play at a much higher standard earns the league respect from all corners. One of these particular enigmas of a generation had been courted by Premier League clubs in his early years before breaking onto the professional scene in style with his unparalleled technical ability and flair, becoming instantly recognisable early in his professional career and hitting the headlines on the front and back pages with an image rights deal, clothing line and a pop-star partner. The darling of the terraces at the club where he enjoyed his finest hours on the field, kids copied his every hairstyle as much as they copied his every flick and trick in the playground while the press and television drooled over his marketability. A national figure who loved the spotlight throughout his career, the press questioned his motives and ambitions when he joined a lesser national league to become the highest-profile and highest-paid player in its history despite still being in his early thirties. A family man at heart despite the living in the media spotlight, this creative genius had turned down offers to stay at the level of football that he had become accustomed to and had decided on a new challenge.
The same could be said for David Beckham. But the above is all about Lee Trundle.
The acquisition of David Beckham was designed to inspire a generation and promote the soccer product to a cynical public engrossed in the actions of their own national sports. The world's game of football remains a second rate sport in the United States but is slowly but surely gaining respect and attention. The women's game in the country is incredibly popular and soccer has developed into a well-participated sport at junior and youth level. While professionals in the senior men's game do not command the salaries expected by their European counterparts, high-profile arrivals such as Beckham and recently Thierry Henry have played a major part in boosting the product as much as the World Cup did in 1994. The arrival of Lee Trundle at Neath FC last summer was for a different purpose, despite the battle for supremacy between football and rugby in Wales, but as Trundle arrived at Neath with his own personal motives, the Welsh Premier League would benefit as much as Major League Soccer did a few years before when it embraced the Beckham-effect.
Trundle's arrival came at the perfect time for the Welsh Premier League. The 2010-2011 season would be the most significant since the league was formed in 1992 as the domestic top-flight was reduced to twelve clubs from its previous eighteen competitors and Trundle featured in a positive media re-launch that included increased live television coverage. On the field both champions The New Saints and current league leaders Bangor City enjoyed relative success in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League respectively but the attention from the outside was directed solely at the arrival of the former Swansea City hero known affectionately as 'Magic Daps'. The Welsh Premier League had played no part in Neath pulling off the biggest transfer in the history of the league, but they rightly made the most of his arrival with the aim of increasing the profile and media respect of the much-maligned league through the cheeky lad from Huyton in Liverpool.
The Gnoll ground at Neath may not be the Home Depot Centre of LA, but Trundle was sold by the ambition of the club and their new wealthy backers as he headlined a string of impressive signings. Trundle joins a number of former Swansea City professionals on the books of the club, but it was the location of the club that persuaded the striker to make a return to the Welsh Premier League after a ten-year absence as much as the lucrative three-year contract on offer. Trundle earned his chance in the professional game after catching the eye of Wrexham manager Brian Flynn while playing for Rhyl and welcomed the opportunity to return to the surroundings of semi-professional football in Wales having been denied a new contract at his beloved Swansea City. Remaining in close proximity of his adopted-home, Trundle was appreciative of the fact that his move to Neath allowed him the opportunity to stay in the area and with it have the chance to continue to play in front of the same fans that had made his time at Swansea City so special.
While Lee Trundle is widely regarded as a unique player, Neath are also regarded as a unique club. Built from a series of recent mergers between smaller clubs in and around the surrounding areas, Neath moved from their previous base in the Neath-outskirts of Llandarcy to ground-share with Neath Rugby Club at their Gnoll home. A predominantly rugby-loving town, the influence of its rugby club to the community should not be underestimated. It is part of the heritage and tradition of the area and The Gnoll has been a sporting place of worship for locals for many years. Despite a move to regional rugby affecting the quality and profile of the club, there remains a strong and established support base from the long-running traditions of families in the local community. Neath FC has now joined in with that culture. With both clubs operating from the same base, initial promotional campaigns for the current season have been joint ventures to offer the local community a complete sporting package.
For the first time the football club now has credibility with the Neath public and made their move to The Gnoll far more than a run-of-the-mill ground-share agreement. It has made a relatively new club like Neath FC an established entity with a strong platform to build from.
Like Beckham, Trundle is as important to Neath off the field as much as he is on it. A marketing dream, the striker has featured heavily in all of the clubs promotional campaigns and is as much a figurehead for the whole of the Welsh Premier League as he is for his club. Although he is still in his first season back in the Welsh Premier League, Trundle has struggled in patches to return to the form that earned him his professional break, but through the occasional flashes of genius, his undoubted natural ability and a handful of penalties, Trundle is currently challenging at the top of the scoring charts as he targets a new ambition in his football career.
After moving to the MLS, David Beckham expressed his desire to continue to represent England, Trundle never did make the breakthrough into International football despite expressing his desire to represent his Grandfather's native Ireland and neither did the £1m marksman make his bow in the English Premier League. Beckham enjoyed success with both during his high-profile career in addition to success on the European stage, and that is where Trundle has ambitions of his own to fulfil and now has the ambition and opportunity to fulfil them with Neath.
Each season three clubs from the Welsh Premier League join the Welsh Cup winners in qualifying for UEFA competition. Often starting at the bottom end of both the Champions League and Europa League, success has been limited but performances have improved as the league has become stronger and there is more consistency in clubs progressing past the first round of qualifying games. Neath are the only South Wales club in the league yet to make their European bow, but new money and the new talent it has enabled them to appoint has made it only a matter of time. The side are currently in third place and must finish in the top two to take their place on the European stage, although the introduction of a play-off system as favoured in the Dutch Eredivisie offers a second chance for teams who do not make one of the two automatic spots.
With Neath confirming a place in the top six ahead of the mid-season split, the ambitious club are serious European contenders and Trundle has played a key part. Although targeted by the opposition, the attention he attracts enables the clubs other former pro's the freedom to attack despite the number of changes made in the summer leaving some performances below the level expected for the investment made. The side continue to develop at a steady pace however and recent consistency in results has eased the pressure for success that such serious financial commitment demands. Crowds have improved significantly for Neath this season, buoyed by the interest of the Swansea City faithful with a lasting memory of Trundle's glory days at their old Vetch Field and Liberty Stadium, and the club is now geared towards achieving their aim of European qualification.
And it is therefore likely that Lee Trundle's remaining football ambitions, a player that moved to the Championship with Bristol City for £1m less than four years ago, will be fulfilled in some little-known European outpost. While it may seem a fall from grace to many, Trundle suffered a miserable time at Ashton Gate and would later fall completely out of love with the Football League when he was denied a second permanent spell at Swansea City.
In a bizarre twist of fate and fortune however, the enigmatic entertainer is now back in front of the South Wales fans that took him to their heart through the best days of his career and now has the opportunity to make his European debut in front of them. While Trundle may not inspire a nation with his performances for Neath, the club and the Welsh Premier League have gained support, respect and credibility from his arrival, and this can only improve further with the popular showman now set to have the European stage to shine on in the near future.
Visit www.markpitman1.com for all the latest news on Welsh football. You can also follow Mark on Twitter at www.twitter.com/markpitman1


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Ray Bradbury August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012
We all read his books and short stories in our younger years. He made an impression.
'Fahrenheit 451' (1953) excerpts
"Do you mind if I ask? How long have you worked at being a fireman?"
"Since I was twenty, ten years ago."
"Do you ever read any of the books you bum?"
He laughed. "That's against the law!"
"Oh. Of course."
"It's fine work. Monday bum Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn 'em
to ashes, then bum the ashes. That's our official slogan."
They walked still further and the girl said, "Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out
instead of going to start them?"
"No. Houses. have always been fireproof, take my word for it."
"Strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and
they needed firemen to stop the flames."
He laughed.
"I-I've been thinking. About the fire last week. About the man whose library we fixed. What happened to him?"
"They took him screaming off to the asylum"
"He. wasn't insane."
Beatty arranged his cards quietly. "Any man's insane who thinks he can fool the Government and us."
"I've tried to imagine," said Montag, "just how it would feel. I mean to have firemen burn our houses and our books."
"We haven't any books."
"But if we did have some."
"You got some?"
Beatty blinked slowly.
"No." Montag gazed beyond them to the wall with the typed lists of a million forbidden books. Their names leapt in fire, burning down the years under his axe and his hose which sprayed not water but kerosene. "No."
"More sports for everyone, group spirit, fun, and you don't have to think, eh?
We know how to nip most of them in the bud, early. You can't build a house without nails and wood. If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the Government is inefficient, top?heavy, and tax?mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag. Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non?combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely `brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy. Any man who can take a TV wall apart and put it back together again, and most men can nowadays, is happier than any man who tries to slide?rule, measure, and equate the universe, which just won't be measured or equated without making man feel bestial and lonely. I know, I've tried it; to hell with it. So bring on your clubs and parties, your acrobats and magicians, your dare-devils, jet cars, motor cycle helicopters, your sex and heroin, more of everything to do with automatic reflex. If the drama is bad, if the film says nothing, if the play is hollow, sting me with the theremin, loudly. I'll think I'm responding to the play, when it's only a tactile reaction to vibration. But I don't care. I just like solid entertainment."
The bombers crossed the sky and crossed the sky over the house, gasping, murmuring, whistling like an immense, invisible fan, circling in emptiness."Jesus God," said Montag. "Every hour so many damn things in the sky! How in hell did those bombers get up there every single second of our lives! Why doesn't someone want to talk about it? We've started and won two atomic wars since 1960. Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten the world? Is it because we're so rich and the rest of the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are? I've heard rumours; the world is starving, but we're well-fed. Is it true, the world works hard and we play? Is that why we're hated so much? I've heard the rumours about hate, too, once in a long while, over the years. Do you know why? I don't, tha's sure! Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us from making the same damn insane mistakes! I don't hear those idiot bastards in your parlour talking about it. God, Millie, don't you see? An hour a day, two hours, with these books, and maybe..."
All we want to do is keep the knowledge we think we will need, intact and safe. We're not out to incite or anger anyone yet. For if we are destroyed, the knowledge is dead, perhaps for good. We are model citizens, in our own special way; we walk the old tracks, we lie in the hills at night, and the city people let us be. We're stopped and searched occasionally, but there's nothing on our persons to incriminate us. The organization is flexible, very loose, and fragmentary. Some of us have had plastic surgery on our faces and fingerprints. Right now we have a horrible job; we're waiting for the war to begin and, as quickly, end. It's not pleasant, but then we're not in control, we're the odd minority crying in the wilderness. When the war's over, perhaps we can be of some use in the world."
"Do you really think they'll listen then?"
"If not, we'll just have to wait. We'll pass the books on to our children, by word of mouth, and let our children wait, in turn, on the other people. A lot will be lost that way, of course.
But you can't make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up under them. It can't last."
Granger stood looking back with Montag. "Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime."
"And hold on to one thought: You're not important. You're not anything. Some day the load we're carrying with us may help someone. But even when we had the books on hand, a long time ago, we didn't use what we got out of them. We went right on insulting the dead. We went right on spitting in the graves of all the poor ones who died before us. We're going to meet a lot of lonely people in the next week and the next month and the next year. And when they ask us what we're doing, you can say, We're remembering. That's where we'll win out in the long run. And some day we'll remember so much that we'll build the biggest goddamn steam-shovel in history and dig the biggest grave of all time and shove war in and cover it up.
complete book


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Isidro Mungia, 47, died on Friday, May 1, 2009.
He was born on Aug. 10, 1961 in Robstown to Lucas and Rosa Soto Mungia. He was a longtime resident of Robstown.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Lydia Ramirez.
He is survived by his wife, Minerva Mungia of Robstown; his two brothers, Lucas (Josie) Mungia Jr. of Houston, and Carlos (Angelita) Mungia of Robstown; five sisters, San Juanita (Juan) Garcia of Baytown, Diana (Juan Jr.) Carrion of Robstown, Roxanne (Felipe) Diaz, Mary Yolanda (Adan) Espinoza, both of Baytown, and Lucia (Vicente) Torres of Baytown.
A Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, May 6 and 7, in the Ramon Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, at St. Mary's Mission in Robstown. Interment followed at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Ramon Funeral Home Inc.