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Happy Belated Birthday President Bush! 41 is 91.
24 June 2015
19 June 2015
Random Bits
post on being a High WASP by Lisa that y'all just have to read.
giving away a loot of goodies and I hope I win! They are all so perfect!
Apparently yesterday was International Picnic Day. I wish I would have known, but really it's so stinking hot here that the picnic would have to be a breakfast picnic at 8 am. ;)
I have more to share, but it's time to make supper (salmon salad for B; strawberry salad for me). I hope y'all have a great weekend!
17 June 2015
Slow Cooker Chicken
Yes, I've chosen to live in the Deep South, but law, it's hot. We were 4 degrees away from breaking a 79 year record. So, it's hot...and humid...ew. If leaving the house is necessitated then leaving before noon is a must. Needless to say that turning on my oven sounds horrifying even with air conditioning. I cannot even imagine my foremothers fried chicken or made soup over a fire in hot Georgia summers pre-air conditioning.
How I do it is we eat a lot of salads, fruit, and I use the slow cooker A LOT. One of my favorite things to do is cook skinless boneless chicken breasts and use it for many meals. I'll list a few here.
10-15 skinless boneless chicken breasts (I use Coleman Organics from Costco. If you use a bag then drain them before putting in the insert.)
32 oz box (low sodium)
Thaw the chicken if necessary. My slow cooker requires thawing of foods before placing in the insert. Cover the chicken with broth until it is completely covered; add water if necessary. Turn on low for 6 hours, high for 3. Check the internal temperature and make sure it's 165. If it is, take out the chicken and with two forks, shred.
My favorite recipe is honey chicken salad croissants:
2 cups of chicken
1/4 cup walnuts
Sliced grapes (your decision on quantity)
1-2 Tablespoon celery
1 Tablespoon honey
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Mix to combine. Add more yogurt if necessary to moisten. Place in croissant with lettuce leave, or on top of a salad. My husband will eat it with corn chips.
A few more recipes for the shredded chicken is:
BBQ chicken
BBQ chicken pizza
Chicken enchiladas
Chicken noodle soup or tortilla soup
What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?
How I do it is we eat a lot of salads, fruit, and I use the slow cooker A LOT. One of my favorite things to do is cook skinless boneless chicken breasts and use it for many meals. I'll list a few here.
10-15 skinless boneless chicken breasts (I use Coleman Organics from Costco. If you use a bag then drain them before putting in the insert.)
32 oz box (low sodium)
Thaw the chicken if necessary. My slow cooker requires thawing of foods before placing in the insert. Cover the chicken with broth until it is completely covered; add water if necessary. Turn on low for 6 hours, high for 3. Check the internal temperature and make sure it's 165. If it is, take out the chicken and with two forks, shred.
My favorite recipe is honey chicken salad croissants:
2 cups of chicken
1/4 cup walnuts
Sliced grapes (your decision on quantity)
1-2 Tablespoon celery
1 Tablespoon honey
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Mix to combine. Add more yogurt if necessary to moisten. Place in croissant with lettuce leave, or on top of a salad. My husband will eat it with corn chips.
A few more recipes for the shredded chicken is:
BBQ chicken
BBQ chicken pizza
Chicken enchiladas
Chicken noodle soup or tortilla soup
What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?
15 June 2015
Authenticity in Blogging
Blogging, in my very humble opinion, has lost a lot of it's authenticity. I began blogging on Homeschool Blogger in 2003-ish when I began homeschooling then went to Homestead Blogger until 2008, where I went to Blogspot and have remained since. Basically, I have been in the blog sphere forever and have seen it all.
I can honestly say that 90% of my best gal pals have been made through blogging and social media. My next step is to attend a few of the conventions to see these friends and make more! I love learning what others are wearing and reading. You can find a blog for whatever interest you have. There's so much good in blogging to be found.
There's also so much negative to be found; snarking and un-authenticity lead the pack in my opinion. There's entire websites that snark on blogs. GOMI needs to get off my internet. The people that snark are so mean. It's one thing to talk about how one writes, but to snark on someone's looks is entirely uncalled for. Why people want to hurt others makes no sense to me.
Blogging began as a online journal for most, even the most popular bloggers. That's how I began. Back in 2007 this was the goal. Now blogging is a career. There's absolutely nothing wrong with making it your career, as long as you stay true to your authentic self. If you can't make a blog post without 50 Reward Style links or answer a Tumblr question without making a sale then you're doing yourself, your blog, and your readers (you know, the people that allowed you to make money in the first place by following your blog) a disservice. I understand getting paid for your job. Like if a reader asks you where to find a purse or Father's Day gift, then sure, you deserve to get paid for searching for this item...especially if you get hundreds of questions a day. Otherwise, I find you annoying.
In the preppy world, Kiel James Patrick and his fiance Sarah Vickers, have created a ton of backlash for seemingly being inauthentic. They are selling a brand, but the problem is they have many young followers that are asking their parents to buy Sarah's $500 Kate Spade dress that she's wearing to showcase the $40 bracelet (which are totally cute, by the way). They're very JFK and Jackie O in aesthetics, but the difference is it was found out they're not filthy rich Kennedy's so they received tons of flack. I actually respect that they're earning a living, but until recently they never said that these are photo shoots, not their actual lives.
Again, this is just me and something that has been on my mind lately. Sometimes I think, why bother? The blogsphere is saturated, but then I remember why I blog...friendship.
11 June 2015
Seersucker Thursdays
In 1997 Former Mississippi Senator Trent Lott started Seersucker Thursday in Congress on the third Thursday of June. The tradition lasted until 2012 when they decided it wasn't "modern" so they stopped it, but Representative Bill Cassidy (as in the Sundance Kid?) made it his mission to get it started again. The photo above is of this year's participants. Aren't they nifty? As Town & Country proclaimed: SQUAD GOALS!
This article in Southern Living shows the best places to get Seersucker in the South, as well as a brief history of the fabric. This dress from Lauren James is the bomb dot com. Seersucker + Bow? Swoon.
L.L. Bean just began their 60% off sale. They have several pieces of seersucker on sale right now. I love the Signature blazer with either the shorts or pants. A few years ago I bought a plum and white seersucker pantsuit from Isaac Mizrahi, but I would love a blue and white dress with blazer. For the men in your life, nothing tops Brooks Brothers seersucker suit. Ralph Lauren has THE CUTEST seersucker outfits for babies. I'm currently wearing a vintage pink and white seersucker tank dress from Lanz.
*No affiliation links
10 June 2015
Road to Tara
Two weeks ago one of my best friend's, C, and her daughter, S, and I met at Road to Tara Museum in Jonesboro, Georgia. C and I have been blogging and social media friends for years! She has always lived on the West Coast until a month ago and this was our first IRL meeting. We've always had a lot in common, including Gone With the Wind. I've heard about this museum for a few years but have never wanted to force anyone to go with me so when C moved here, I was like, finally, I don't have to drag anyone! :) The museum has items were at the opening downtown at the Lowes Theater, costumes and set contents, and much more!
These pictures of Ashley, Scarlett, Rhett, and Melanie were at the opening. They're actual paintings. I'm shocked at they're in such good condition. Personal anecdote: when I was in middle school I dated a cutie pie named Ashley. Poor guy was constantly hearing in a severe Southern accent, "Ashley, oh Ashley".
This photo has a photobomb of a very sweet and very busy toddler!
One of the theatrical posters.
This is a long poster and below this is a telephone where you can listen to a recording of behind the scenes.
Ariel is sitting in seats from the Lowes Theater. Above Ariel is a hand lettered marquee that was also in the theater opening night.
By far my favorite of Scarlett's dresses-the BBQ dress that she wore in the opening with the twins.
The famous curtains dress that Scarlett wore to see Capt. Butler in jail.
I hope you'll stop by and visit the museum. There's more than I took photos of and posted here. It's a Georgia gem!
06 June 2015
June's Simple Woman's Daybook
Please follow along at The Simple Woman's Daybook.
June 6, 2015
Outside my window...The trees are full, the sky is blue, sun is shining, and there's a cardinal, titmouse, and nuthatch on the new bird feeder. It's nice and warm at 90 degrees, which is common in Atlanta, and will be for the next ten days.
I am thinking...that everything happens for a reasons and I need to just be patient and rely on God.
I am thankful... for air conditioning. When I get warm, I imagine being in the Georgia heat without air and I feel so grateful that I can go from home to car with air conditioning to a building with it too. Publix was the first grocery store to have it, and it has the best around.
In the kitchen... cream cheese sausage balls and strawberries for brunch; hamburgers, German potato salad, and salad for supper.
I am wearing... black leggings and white T for now, but changing into Lilly tank dress to run errands in a few minutes.
I am creating... care package for baby girl in CA.
I am going... to run errands.
I am wondering... if I should lighten my hair.
I am reading... Ten Beach Road. I am only 2 chapters in and really do not have an opinion, but like that it's based in Atlanta.
I am hoping... that VP Biden finds peace after the death of his son.
I am looking forward to... swimming this summer. After not swimming much the last few years I'm looking forward to it.
I am learning...to use Wordpress with videos.
Around the house... Almost finished with spring cleaning. I need to do some dusting of cobwebs, vents, and pictures. The hard part is finished!
I am pondering... would I prefer to be Anne or Diana's friend more. Am I the only one who visualizes fictional characters as real life people that I could become acquainted with in some fashion?
A favorite quote for today... "This obsession with food and entertaining is not my fault. I grew up on a place where restaurants were few and cooking was of paramount importance. We give food away as presents and peace offerings, and sometimes just because it is so incredibly good that we have no choice but to share it. We tote it to people in times of grief; we use it to say bon voyage or welcome back." Julia Reed
One of my favorite things... Dunkin Donut's chips ahoy creme doughnut. Y'all, I had one yesterday for National Doughnut Day and it was DIVINE.
A few plans for the rest of the week: swim and job hunt.
A peek into my day... last night I pulled out my three newest beauty products that I love and took a Snapchat picture of them. The Batista is seriously good and the tropical scent makes my hair smell so good. The nail polish is Revlon ColorStay Gel in Pocket Aces.
04 June 2015
National Doughnut Day!
The first Friday in June is always National Doughnut/Donut Day. Oh how it's one of my favorite day's of the year! Our first stop of the day is Dunkin Donuts where you get a free doughnut (your choice of flavor) with any beverage (if you know me at all you know it's always caramel iced coffee). Then we'll head to Krispy Kreme to get our free HOT glazed. Oh mama.
01 June 2015
Monday Musings
My son and I ate nothing but junk and watched massive amounts of television. Everything my husband hates! Copious amounts of Hallmark Channel and maybe a few episodes of Southern Charm. I was not a fan of Pizza Hut's bacon stuffed pizza as I thought I would be. I mean, it has all of my favorite ingredients besides potatoes-cheese, pizza, and bacon. Somehow, they didn't get it right. Next time I'll stick with my regular pan pizza topped with bacon and pepperoni. The Chips Ahoy creme filled donut at Dunkin'...so scrumptious! The Braves won again on Saturday night so on Sunday I picked up my free iced coffee (caramel, of course) and splurged on the donut seeing as I didn't really eat much pizza.
I spend less time than I ought on cosmetics though I love to look at them. The other day I was in Nordstrom and came across Clinique's new Pop Lip colors. They are absolutely gorgeous. Basically it's a primer and lipstick in one, and supposedly lasts 8 hours. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to get it as I need a new foundation, which alone does not cost enough to get the Free Gift With Purchase. Obv. the way to save money is to spend more in order to get a gift. ;) Dave Ramsey would be so proud.
Have you read the article on the former business lady that quit her $95k job to serve ice cream on a Caribbean island? It is very different than other travel bloggers that say you suck if you work in a cubicle or are a SAHM. There's trials everywhere, but just ask yourself where you'd like to have those trials, including chickens in your shower.
Last week my husband and I headed to K & G on Howell Mill Road to get him some things for his trip. I was beyond excited when we walked in and the first thing we saw was a seersucker suit. I have begged my Midwestern Yankee husband to buy a seersucker suit for 18 years to no avail. He still wouldn't as he has in his head that only lawyers from Oxford wear them. I mean, hello, he's lived in Atlanta like 30 years so he knows that's not true, but I guess it's too Southern for him. I did talk him into getting a pair of seersucker shorts. That night I opened up the latest issue of Garden & Gun magazine and found this article on wearing seersucker. Now, I wonder if I go back and buy the sport coat if B would leave the house wearing it.
I hope everyone has a great week!
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about books being the gift that keeps on giving.
And although I always believed this and have recognized the multitude of ways in which books have transformed my own existence, it wasn't until recently when I observed the girls interacting with our small but potently stocked library, that I could say with certainty that we have to give them more books and more time to be with these books…reading them, sharing them, drawing and painting about them or acting out the stories the love the most.
There have been many changes in our physical positioning and how the classes themselves are being managed. We have moved into a room on the internado side – where the girls live. It is a beautiful space and it feels more and more like it will be a more permanent home for eStudio473. In this move, I requested that we put the library in the classroom as well, so that the girls would have more regular access. At the same time that we moved from the old classroom into the new room, we expanded our teaching team to include three Art Students from the University of Guanajuato. They have taken over teaching some of the workshops. To learn more about them visit our volunteers page.
Their presence has helped me to open the library more often. This means that the girls that are not in an art class can come pick out a few books and read independently or with a friend, a couple days a week. This time has become something that the girls value as much as the art classes, and similarly they never want the time to end. Recently I had to actually turn off the lights to get them to got eat their dinner, about six girls were so entranced by what they were reading they insisted that they weren't hungry!
So, naturally when I received the money from our Givology Art Show from this summer I immediately thought of the girls and their growing love of books. I felt that part of the money should go directly to the girls as their personal earnings, but cash is wasted quickly when placed in little hands…it would have been blown on candy, plastic toys and soda in a week. Or worse it could have become a problem at home on what the money needed to be spent on. So I decided that I would divide the money up to be spent on books for each girl to take home with them, a start to their own personal library. We made a list of everyone's preferences and I went off to a book fair in Mexico City with an empty suitcase a friend to help me search and decide! Upon my return, I wrote dedications to each of the girls that explained why I had chosen this book for her. The girls asked me everyday for a week about the books…..they were sooooo excited. I told them that we had to wait until Thursday when their parents would be there for an important meeting because I wanted to talk to them about the books and celebrate the job well-done by the girls. On that thursday night during the meeting I tried to make it as clear as possible that these were not gifts, they were earnings. And that when they talked to their girls at home about the books I hoped that they would show them how proud they were for what the girls were able to accomplish. In the future I asked that we all refer to the books as a reminder of what is possible through creativity and dedication. With part of the money I also bought educational tools and books to be used in the classes or by volunteers. Two of the books were about developing a love for reading and encouraging the act of writing. I presented these ideas to the parents and offered to share the exercises with them and to run a literacy through activities workshop with whomever was interested. ALL of the parent's signed up.
After this I went on to the basketball court to present the girls with their books. I explained that we would do this in a purposeful manner so has not to allow for any craziness where a book could be lost or damaged. I wanted each girl to receive her own books and then go find a quiet space to sit and read them and the dedication. This was also my effort to allow each of them to feel satisfied and connected to their own books instead of jealous of anyone else's. I was worried about how this would go down to be honest. Sometimes the process of receiving anything new and different is difficult for the girls to handle.
They were AMAZING. It was a beautiful exchange. All of them were equally proud of and enchanted by their new books. I reminded them repeatedly to thank themselves because they had earned it. However, now away from that moment I want to say an ENORMOUS and SINCERE thank you from myself as well as all of the girls, to Maggie, Julia and Joyce and everyone else from Givology that worked so hard to afford us this opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment and foster a love of story.

subset: commoncrawl


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When doing my Sega Genesis revisited article, I promised a full-fledged article on X-Men. Well it's 2017, and I'm trying to keep my promises. So here it goes.
X-Men for the Sega Genesis arguably is the best console incarnation of superheroes in the 90's—at least that I can remember. Consider the other superhero video games for the Sega Genesis, for NES, the SNES, and other systems of the time. I think this game tops Captain America and the Avengers (SEGA), Spider-man & the X-Men : Arcades Revenge (SNES), Maximum Carnage (SNES & SEGA), and the litany of Batman outings across consoles. The only game that would rival it for me personally is X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse for SNES, but I think that's a personal preference. Level to level, one could make an argument for the Genesis option.
Granted, a lot of superhero games have come since the 1990's, and I am sure that many of them are excellent. I hear that the Batman Arkham series is particularly good, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a fan favorite. Marvel v Capcom and DC's Injustice fighting games also have their followers. So, going back nearly 25 years to check out this now-vintage title may seem silly.
But I love the simplicity of the older console outings, and this one remains solid. For any X-fan, this game incorporates not only the individual X-Men in some of their most iconic costumes, but it also uses a team element were you can call non-playable characters to come and help you as well as change characters at some point and some levels. Some of the well-known rogues appear, too; and it's fun to see iconic characters that you know show up on the screen from time to time, even if they crush you. On top of great characters, the gameplay is relatively straightforward, and the mutant powers are pretty exciting when you have enough in your meter to use them. It's the type of game any X-Men fan may enjoy giving a try, but this game also has a small puzzle element that raises it above the "hack-and-slash" category and could cause problems for some players.
Which of course bring us to the sad fact that while I enjoy this game, I am bad at it. I am writing these things having only play through two levels of the game. That's right, for all my love for it, I have played less than 50% of its screens. Regardless of what character I chose or which strategy I implemented, I could not find my way past the second base, a Shi'ar our space station. It's a sad thing, as I would've liked to of played the game further and encountered more great characters from the comics as well as seen some more of what the game and offer.
Oh well, at least I got to battle the unstoppable Juggernaut.


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THE RECORD: Ghost B.C. Infestissumam 2013 Loma Vista Recordings
The Ghost abides. Sure, some people might seem skeptical of a band that is mostly anonymous and wears hooded clergy-style robes on stage. Maybe it's a gimmick, maybe it's campy, but I love the ridiculousness of it. After Opus Eponymous came out in 2011, I wondered how the band would top it. Luckily I did not have to wait long, and 2013 has brought Ghost's second full-length record, Infestissumam.
The title and first track starts off almost as a Gregorian chant, with a choir of vocals that would not sound strange in a large gothic cathedral. Soon, the wail of guitars comes in and the familiarity of the previous record comes in.
Carnival-sounding organs are found on several tracks on this record, including track two, "Per Aspera Ad Inferi" and the single "Secular Haze".
In some ways, Infestissumam is not as heavy as Ghost's previous record, but it's definitely not any less awesome. I get a psychedelic vibe from it, which is especially prominent on the 7+ minute rocker "Gheleh/Zombie Queen". Reminds me of a few obscure, experimental records from the 60s I probably have floating around somewhere.
and of course, there's plenty of Satanic references to be found on this record. Single "Year Zero" namechecks a variety of monikers for the Dark Lord himself with the opening lines,
"Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub,
Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer"
The video for this song is pretty awesome, albeit not safe for work. It features some interesting and artistic shots, as well as a good amount of nudity. I actually had trouble finding an uncensored version on Youtube, so you can check it out on Metal Insider after the jump below.
>I love that the band maintains their anonymity as well, with the band members only known as Nameless Ghouls and dressed in robes, and the lead singer going by the name of Papa Emeritus II and donning pope regalia. Papa even campaigned for Pope this year. I voted for him, of course, and the "Clergy" thanked me for my participation in the papal enclave. Speaking of the Clergy, their Facebook posts are worth checking out as well, specifically the way they thank audiences ("Children of ____") for a great show ("worship").
All in all, Ghost continues to be an incredibly fun band to listen to, and this record does not disappoint for sure.
THE BREW: Cambridge Brewing Company Sgt. Pepper- Cambridge, MA
What a crazy beer. I tried this for the first time last week and was blown away by it. The first taste is entirely different from the taste that you get after you've been sitting on it for awhile. The initial taste is refreshing and lightly malty.The flavor you get at the end of the bottle or pint is downright spicy, verging on uncomfortable depending on your tolerance for that sort of thing. It pours a dark amber-gold out of the bottle and has a very dry mouthfeel.
This beer is brewed with four different types of peppercorns; black, green, white, and pink. All of those different peppers have very specific flavors on their own. When added to the pot of Pilsner, CaraVienne, and Rye malts, with Magnum and Spalter hops, it produces a very unique result.
Like Ghost, some might think this beer is taking flavors a bit too far, and perhaps a gimmick. However, also like Ghost, this beer manages to pull it off because it is well done. This is a great example of the farmhouse style, and for someone like myself who is fairly picky about saisons (and metal to be honest), I think it is a great one.
I suppose I could go out on a limb and say that the spicy heat from the pink peppercorns on the finish is similar to the fire and brimstone of Beelzebub's backyard, but I won't.
Plus, the label on the bottle automatically makes a it a wonderful pairing with a record. It has a turntable surrounded by psychedelic orange and pink flowers on it, which is sounds the setting of where I'll be playing the copy of Infestissimum that came in the mail recently! On blood red translucent vinyl, of course.
Ghost had added additional tour dates for the summer, including one in Connecticut, which will take place Saturday, July 27 at the Webster Theater in Hartford. An added bonus? Skeletonwitch will be opening up for them! Click here for tickets.


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London has a rich history that dates back to the Roman settlements in 43 A.D. Since then it has been an epicentre for the arts, education, entertainment, commerce and the sciences. Over the centuries, as a leading city, London developed as a hub and it is no wonder that many of the scientific achievements and important names - such as Sir Isaac Newton, Alexander Fleming, Elias Ashmole (founder of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum), Joseph Lister and Charles Darwin - all called the city home at some point.
If you visit London on an educational trip to explore the scientific elements of the city, you can visit the places where these (and many other) famous scientists lived and worked. But taking time out to see the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in London is the best way to explore the scientific history of the city [and country] while visiting on an educational trip.
Natural History Museum
As one of the three large museums that face onto Cromwell Road, you cannot miss the stunning and imposing architecture of the Natural History Museum as you draw near. The founding collection for the museum was that which belonged to Sir Hans Sloane, whose significant artworks were purchased by the British government in the 18th century. The early collection was housed in Montegue House, until the current building was built by Alfred Waterhouse [in a Romanesque style]. The building was completed in 1880 and today is home to some 70 million items housed within the five main collections.
A visit to the Natural History Museum can easily take days, but on an educational trip time may be limited. By narrowing it down to the collections of Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology, you will have a better chance to see and study the things that interest your group the most. Without a doubt, the most famous exhibitions at the museum are of the dinosaur skeletons and casts, which sit nicely within the cathedral-like, ornate architecture. Particularly memorable is the large cast of the Diplodocus, which dominates the main hall.
The Science Museum
If you have had time to peruse the massive collection at the Natural History Museum and are still eager to make the most of the scientific element on an educational trip to London, head over to the Science Museum, located very near to the Natural History Museum.
Founded in 1857 by Bennet Woodcroft as a compilation of various other museums and collections, the Science Museum can now boast over 300,000 pieces, many of which are famous in the world of science and beyond. Some of the most important objects the museum holds are the oldest surviving steam locomotive, the first jet engine, a model of Crick and Watson's DNA strand, a floor of medical history, and documentation of the first typewriter. In addition to the exhibits, the museum has many interactive elements and areas that encourage students to get involved, as well as an IMAX 3D theatre showing documentaries.


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The Brattle Group has assisted both pipeline applicants and shippers in many natural gas and oil pipeline rate proceedings over the past twenty-five years. We have a keen understanding of the ratemaking and regulatory policy issues affecting the natural gas and oil pipeline industries at both state/provincial and federal levels. We understand the practical details of regulatory accounting as well as the broader issues surrounding adequate investor returns, appropriate price signals, proper rate design, and the need for economic efficiency. Our testimony experience on major regulatory policy issues is also extensive, and we often provide economic analysis on issues of industry restructuring, access, prudence, and stranded cost recovery.
In ratemaking, we have extensive experience with all aspects of traditional cost of service analysis as well as alternative methods such as market-based rates, incentive regulation, and negotiated rates. Our work in cost-of-service proceedings spans the full spectrum of issues that typically arise in such proceedings, including cost of service, cost allocation, rate design, rate base derivation, appropriate operations and maintenance expense levels (including parent company overhead cost allocations), allowed return, test year billing determinants, appropriate treatment of discounts, and analysis of business risk. We also have extensive experience analyzing pipeline applications for market-based rates. We have assisted clients in settlement negotiations by modeling the transportation rates of the pipeline and analyzing the sensitivity of rates to alternative rate designs or cost of service assumptions. We offer insights into unanticipated effects of provisions being proposed by opposing parties and we provide creative thinking about ways to structure settlement terms.
Below is a list of representative engagements for our Ratemaking & Regulatory Policy practice.
On behalf of an oil refiner, we presented testimony before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) analyzing the market power held by a refined petroleum products pipeline seeking market-based rates. Our analysis focused on the competitiveness of alternatives to the pipeline from the refiner's perspective and the ability of the pipeline to increase prices in its destination markets. This analysis focused on the competitiveness of several geographic markets as well as how contracting between entities affects the substitutability of alternatives in the market.
We have extensive experience in preparing as well as evaluating pipeline cost of service studies. In the context of rate proceedings, The Brattle Group has modeled the transportation rates of several natural gas and oil pipelines including El Paso Natural Gas, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, TransCanada Pipeline, Florida Gas Transmission, Iroquois Gas Transmission, SFPP, Enterprise Teppco, Buckeye, SoCalGas, Pacific Gas & Electric, British Gas and Gaz Metropolitain. We have testified in numerous proceedings regarding rate base derivation, appropriate operations and maintenance expense levels (including parent company overhead cost allocations), allowed return, test year billing determinants, and the appropriate treatment of discounts. We have also analyzed and addressed cost allocation procedures in testimony, including allocation between non‑jurisdictional and jurisdictional activities, as well as amongst separate jurisdictional systems. Our work often involves testifying as to the appropriate rate design methodology.
In analyzing PG&E's Gas Transmission & Storage (GT&S) business' 1997-2010 operations & maintenance expenses and capital expenditures, Brattle experts found that its actual spending exceeded the adopted amounts that were provided for in revenue requirements and rates. We also found that GT&S' profitability during this time was largely due to its success in selling at-risk storage services and not due to alleged spending reductions.
In a dispute between an oil pipeline and a shipper, we submitted an expert report on behalf of the shipper, BP Products North America ("BP"). Our report calculated the damages to BP as a result of the oil pipeline's discriminatory conduct that reduced BP's allocation of pipeline capacity and required BP to purchase more expensive crude oil on alternative pipeline routes.
The Brattle Group has sponsored testimony on behalf of interstate pipelines and local distribution companies evaluating business risk, including AltaGas, ANR Pipeline, ATCO Gas, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Gas Transmission Northwest, Gaz Métro, Kern River Gas Transmission, Nova Gas Transmission, TransCanada Mainline, Trans Québec & Maritimes Pipeline, and Union Gas Limited. This testimony has been submitted in regulatory proceedings to determine these companies' cost of capital and allowed rates of return. Our testimony has analyzed the competitive and regulatory environment in which the companies operate and how this environment impacts the companies' market position and business risk.
We worked on behalf of Southern California Edison (SCE) in El Paso Natural Gas Company's (El Paso's) 2010 rate proceeding (RP10-398) as well as in Texas Gas' complaint proceeding involving El Paso's fuel rate design (RP10-951). In RP10-398, we filed testimony demonstrating that El Paso's zone of delivery rate design methodology and its use of contract path mileages for cost allocation purposes were outdated and led to unjust and unreasonable rates. Our analysis suggested that distance was no longer a strong explanatory factor of costs on the El Paso system and that a postage stamp rate design made sense. In RP10-951, a Brattle principal filed testimony on behalf of SCE arguing that the zone of delivery fuel charge rate designs proposed by Texas Gas and FERC Staff were unjust and unreasonable and that El Paso's existing postage stamp fuel charge rate design was just and reasonable as supported by the factual evidence regarding El Paso's system operations and characteristics.
Complex business and legal matters require intellectually honest and analytically rigorous solutions that are thoughtfully developed and clearly communicated. We apply economic and finance principles with uncompromising quality to achieve clarity in the face of complexity. Independent analysis, responsive execution, and compelling presentation. That's Brattle. That's the Power of Economics.


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Chamonix, resort town in the heart of the French Alps offers many delights to visitors all year round. Whether you are planning a catered or self-catering stay, the Chamonix restaurants are numerous, both slope side and in and around town with a variety of menus to tempt you.
Discover the restaurants of Chamonix, Vallorcine, Servoz and Les Houces, neighbouring villages nestled in the Mont Blanc Massif. Each resort has its unique atmosphere, unspoilt and family-friendly and with easy access to chair lifts to get you to your chosen itinerary, whether for skiing in winter or a leisurely hike through meadows and forests in the summer.
Whatever your favourite mountain sport or activity, you can consult our practical guide for the latest news, bookings and more. We provide listings of restaurants in Chamonix, from traditional alpine dishes to daring contemporary fusion foods, wet your appetite and plan gastronimic outings during your stay.
We invite you to discover the latest events and news in Chamonix with our free newsletter! Join up and prepare yourself for a fabulous stay in the French Alps.
Plan your holidays in Chamonix Mont Blanc in the Alps (France) with the tourist office : accommodation, restaurant, activity, transportation, airport transfer, ski ...
If you need further information about restaurants in Chamonix, please contact us.


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"Bridging the Gap" Lori LaBerge 2015
Someone once said that a piece of art is never finished until it is sold. I am finding this to be very true lately as I add to, subtract from or alter pieces I am working on.
This week "Bridging the Gap" was framed and the two pieces connected with metal bars. The original plan was to have the "bridge" go straight across. As I was connecting the two sections, I really liked the shift that was created by pushing the smaller piece upward. The work is movable so the pieces may be shifted up and down at various angles. I enjoy the idea of someone being able to alter this piece to their liking and not necessarily to my intention or point of view.
This thought led me to researching point of view or interpretations related to artwork. I think art should lead us to think. To think about artist intent, to think about how we view the artwork and how these two thoughts are or are not related and why. To think about art we simply enjoy for the beauty of it and art we connect to due to the message it sends. We all approach art from our own past experiences. What may mean something to one person may have no bearing whatsoever on another.
When I find myself viewing a piece of artwork I don't understand I often ask myself what I am missing about the artist's intent or what I personally could derive from viewing the work.
The majority of artwork I have collected is because it said something to me.
"Shadows in the Alley" by Bruce Docker
This is a piece I just had to have the minute I saw it. The architectural lines and my love of old buildings drew me to it. There is a bit of mystery with what is lurking in the alleyway. What awaits when you enter places that few people go?
Hooked vessel by Molly Colegrove
The hand shapes attracted me to this work. It is almost as it they are reaching for something they can't quite get to. There are six hands, each touching another at some point. It reminds me of family and how though we are separated at times, we are still always together reaching out to each other.
"Red" by Louise Oppenheimer
Red is such a vibrant color and yet there is the calm of floating leaves, some attached to others, some separated. It is the calm within the excitement that draws me to this work making me believe that even in times of chaos the calm will prevail.
"Quasimodo" by Woody Higgins
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is one of my favorite novels and there is a chapter dedicated to the description of the cathedral which I've read over and over again. There is also the view of the admiration of old architecture and the character's perception that the newly renovated cathedral does not even compare to the style the original projected. This goes along with my own love of historic architecture.
Think about what draws you to certain works of art, determine how you could try to better understand those works you have trouble interpreting and have a great day.


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Your body was built to survive in the Stone Age.
We adapt to change slowly. It takes about 200,000 years for a beneficial mutation to spread throughout the human gene pool.
That means we should have begun making the changes that help us survive in the Information Age 200,000 years ago.
We didn't.
Your body goes into fight, flight, or freeze countless times a day.
When your body perceives a threat, your nervous system ensures that you have the resources you need to survive.
But how often do you actually fight, flee, or freeze? And where does all that survival energy go if you don't use it up to save yourself?
Your body responds to all perceived threats in the same way.
A threat is a threat, and your body can't tell the difference between a lion and a layoff.
We respond to every threat by going into fight, flight, or freeze.
It all adds up to stress, and stress adversely impacts your health.
An estimated 60 to 90 percent of all doctor visits are stress-related.
Stress causes "diseases of civilization," including high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, neck or low back pain, and cancer.
For your body, everything is happening right now.
Your body doesn't distinguish between the past, present, or future.
Whether you're remembering yesterday's threat, facing one today, or worrying about one that might happen tomorrow, your body responds the same way.
Stress also adversely impacts your relationships.
Social engagement is a survival strategy we hear less about than fight, flight, and freeze. Because humans have always lived in clans or tribes, social engagement is our most evolved survival skill.
We use it all the time to keep things harmonious at home and at work. But we can't be socially engaged when we're in fight, flight, or freeze.
Fortunately, there are antidotes to stress and trauma.
Because the fight, flight, and freeze response takes place in the body, it has to be addressed via the body. We teach you somatic (body-oriented) methods for relieving stress, which can improve every facet of your life.
* Clock image courtesy of Dineshraj Goomany.


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Radio Cade — Episode 1: Jose Medeles
Jose Medeles is the owner of Portland's world-famous Revival Drum Shop and I'm proud to say he's my first-ever podcast guest.
Full of real-world wisdom — much of it earned by playing with a long list of rock-music badasses — Jose can riff on Marcus Aurelius as ably as he can discuss playing drums with Joey Ramone. He's enormously dedicated to his craft and his business, but he's also a family man and he's fiercely loyal to the people who've helped him along the way.
Jose and I talked about drums and rock 'n' roll, but also about gratitude and authenticity, and how conflict and debate can indicate that people care, dammit (which reminded me of this great Edward Abbey quote).
I only recently met Jose, but he's already one of my favorite people in Portland. If you listen to his many thoughtful answers in our conversation, you'll know why.
People and places mentioned in this podcast include:
- 22 Jacks
- 1939 Ensemble: David Coniglio, Josh Thomas, Knate Carter
- Ann Peebles
- BadBadNotGood
- Battles
- Ben Harper
- Blue Cranes
- Blondie
- Bob Moses
- Dave King
- DJ Bonebrake
- DJ Logic
- Earth
- Elvin Jones
- Elvis Costello
- Ginger Baker
- Hank Williams
- Jack London Revue
- Jim Keltner
- Joey Ramone
- John Zorn
- Jon Theodore, Queens of the Stone Age
- Kamasi Washington
- La Salle, Illinois
- Medeski, Martin & Wood
- Mississippi Studios
- Modest Mouse
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Pete Thomas
- Phil Manley, Trans Am
- Portland, Oregon
- Quasi
- Ralph Carney
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Chad Smith, Josh Klinghoffer
- Revival Drum Shop: Jake Endicott, Keary Ortiz
- Revolution Hall
- Rocket from the Crypt
- School of Rock
- The Bad Plus
- The Breeders: Kim Deal, Kelley Deal, Jim MacPherson, Mando Lopez, Richard Presley
- The Professional Drum Shop: Jerry Keyawa, Stan Keyawa
- Thundercat
- Tom Waits
- Tortoise
Radio Cade is produced and edited with the help of my friends at Island Station Media Lab. Intro and outro music is supplied by Chicago composer Brett Van Donsel. Background music is "Moon Booty" by Dr. Theopolis.


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Shortly after my first post we managed to get out on the water for our first taste of sailing the Tom 28. We started slow at the dock familiarizing ourselves with the boat, BJ and Kris feeling everything in their section of the boat to prepare for our time on the water.
The Tom 28s are a more performance oriented boat than the Sonar and getting used to the layout and heel took a bit of time. The sail area is also larger which will take some small adjustment moving forward. Luckily none of the teams are overly familiar with the boats and the extra room in the cockpit makes the movement of four sailors slightly less like a round of bumper cars than in the Sonar cockpit.
We did a bit of speed testing with four of the Tom's out in a formation. We are confident we can do well with our speed and its looking likely that good starts and roundings are going to make the difference just like in any other race. What I've learned from sailing with the blind teams is that we have to stop thinking of it as a different form of sailing; the sailing is the same and the changes for safety are really minor and have more to do with avoiding collisions than anything.
After the required Chicago deep dish pizza for dinner we made a quick stop at Target to pick up a few snacks and ran into our big fan Chewbacca who is looking forward to his new movie release.
Chewbacca cheers on the team.
For more information please visit these links:
2015 IFDS Blind Sailing World & International Championship Entries
Crew Info
|Jason Berdyck
|Headsail Trimmer
|Group 1
|BJ Blahnik
|Main Trimmer
|Group 1
|Kris Scheppe
|Group 1
|Matthew Wierzbach


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Last month I featured new Germantown nail salon Poppy & Monroe on 12th & Broad Broad Style. I am obsessed with this gorgeous environmentally friendly nail oasis that sits at the corner of 6th and Monroe. Once you have your nails done here, you won't want to go anywhere else. The salon is drop-dead gorgeous, which is no surprise considering owners Sherri Coates and Karen Kops, both have backgrounds in interior design. From the minute you walk through the pink lacquered door of this 100+ year-old Germantown home, you're transported to a cool, modern, relaxing space that's luxurious without being pretentious. You're going to want to spend a lot of time here.
Photo by Blu Sanders
Sherri and Karen are savvy entrepreneurs who have done their homework on bringing the latest environmentally conscious salon trends to Nashville. Don't expect to soak your hands and feet in water here. This salon uses waterless services, and in doing so, will save an average of 15,000 gallons of water in a year. I was sold on this salon after a quick 15-minute polish application at their opening event. After six days, I only had one tiny chip. For me to get six days from regular polish is unreal.This is a testament to the products they're using and their skilled, knowledgeable staff. They are currently testing environmentally conscious gel nail products to find the right one that has the staying power of the gel polishes we're used to using. Now that I know many gel polishes can be unregulated in terms of the ingredients used, I'm just fine waiting for a more environmentally friendly version.
Photo by Blu Sanders
One of the many things I love about Sherri and Karen is that they're perfectionists. They want your experience to be incredible every time and they won't stop testing products until they get the absolute right ones. I appreciate that attention to detail.
Here, Sherri and Karen answer five questions about the salon and its services.
How did you and Karen meet?
Interestingly enough, at the BDNY (Boutique Design) hospitality trade show in NYC last year. Karen was attending the show after just leaving her VP post at a large hospitality firm. The company I was a VP for competed with hers for major hotel brand programs on the product and interiors side. She came to my booth and we realized quickly we were both working out of Nashville, which is unusual for our industry with the extensive travel required. It took a few more months for us to even get together here in town, but once we did, the ideas to possibly collaborate together started flowing rather quickly.
What type of experience should customers expect?
Karen's and my backgrounds in hospitality taught us well about the "entire experience" of what authentic hospitality and luxury means. From the minute someone walks through our Magenta Manicure door, (yes it's an actual color) they will see every loving detail we poured over to create the ideal blend of comfort and repose in the space itself. We have so little time to truly "get away" in this hectic world of ours, we want to make sure every customer feels truly pampered each and every time they visit us. Upon entering we will offer a warm herbal neck wrap and invite you to sit back and recline in one of our custom made chairs we searched the globe for. Throughout the services, our artists will use our custom made, locally sourced organic soaks, scrubs and lotions that Karen worked on so closely with our local partner over many months to ensure their quality, and to perfect our signature scent of rose and tea tree. It's details like these we hope our customers will enjoy and keep coming back for.
Photo by Blu Sanders
You've taken great care to carry and use environmentally conscious lines. Some are even Nashville-based. Explain the importance of this, especially when it comes to beauty products and treatments.
Throughout our research we've learned that on average men and women use approximately 10-15 personal care products per day with a total of 126 different ingredients within these. Given that nearly 90% of cosmetic ingredients are left untested for safety, it can be a bit alarming to think that most of what you put on your body hasn't been regulated. Our goal was to take the guesswork out of the equation for our clients. We've personally tested all of the products we sell for efficacy and purity. We've vetted the ingredient lists so you don't have to.
We love local! We currently carry four cosmetic lines and one jewelry line that are from Nashville. Among these on the product side are Blueberries and Lace (who makes our in-service products as well), Golden Apothecary, Rainwater Farms and Aila (who makes one of the lacquer lines we use and sell), and Branded Collective on the jewelry front. Karen is a native Nashvillian and is proud to promote local as much as possible. Having lines as amazing as these makes local partnerships easy to execute.
Waterless services will be new to many people. Explain the benefits.
Research was a crucial part of our process. In looking at trends in salons, and the nail care business in general, we kept running into this concept of waterless services. Intrigued, we took a seminar by one of the pioneers of the trend while attending a beauty show in Las Vegas this summer and that's all it took. We were hooked. In speaking with medical professionals, as well as nail care representatives around the world, we knew it was something we had to bring to Nashville given the benefits it brings to the table - better polish adhesion, less risk of water-borne bacteria and the ability to save a valuable natural resource. Did you know the average salon uses over 15K gallons of water a year?!?!. We knew there had to be a better way!
Name five of your favorite places in Nashville.
Sherri: 12th South has way too many shops and restaurants I enjoy & frequent, Radnor, Franklin, Leipers Fork.
Karen: I'm an East-Side girl so I have to say Shelby Park is my personal fave. It just keeps getting better!
Read the full interview on 12th & Broad here. Poppy & Monroe will host their event of the year to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 2 from 5-7pm. Connie Smith, who wrote the book, "Never Lose Heart,"will be doing a book signing that night and some great brands like One Love Organics will be featured too. See you there!
Photo by Blu Sanders


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Agencies Beware, Pandora and Other Firms Are Building In-House Creative Shops
In search of more advertising dollars, media companies are ramping up the creative services they can offer marketers directly, presenting a potential competitive threat to ad agencies that normally handle that sort of work.
Over the past year, streaming music provider Pandora Media Inc. has grown its creative department about 70% and now has about 60 employees in the division, the company says. Pandora has raided creative agencies, social agencies, and other media companies for talent.
"Our mission is to position Pandora as more than just a media buy," said Heidi Browning, senior vice president of strategic solutions at Pandora.
Pandora isn't alone. Media companies, publishers and tech companies are increasingly offering up more creative services to advertisers. Screenvision, which sells ads that run in movie theaters before the start of films, says it is about to launch a 10-person creative shop.
Meanwhile, the rise of "native advertising" or "sponsored content" -- ads that are meant to somewhat blend in with regular editorial content -- has forced publishers such as The Wall Street Journal and Forbes to open content studios that produce ads on behalf of brands.
The shift could have serious implications for traditional ad agencies, which have typically handled the bulk of creative output for marketers. Over the past few years brands have become much more willing to work with more than one agency and experiment with a range of creative types outside of the typical Madison Avenue firms, ad experts say.
The rise of different advertising channels and ad techniques is fueling the trend. Years ago, brands could work with an ad firm to craft campaigns for print, TV and radio. That was simple enough. Now, marketers are experimenting with a long list of different ad techniques such five-second Vine videos, sponsored content, Facebook video ads and Promoted Pins on Pinterest.
With so many options, media companies are stepping up their game to help marketers, hoping they can lure more ad dollars.
"Marketers need such an overwhelming amount of ad content now, they have to go to a lot of different places," said Russel Wohlwerth, a principle at External View Consulting Group, a firm that matches agencies with marketers.
Pandora says it sometimes works in tandem with a traditional agency on behalf of a marketer but also does solo creative work.
Advertisers "want to be more involved and understand the new frontiers," Ms. Browning said. "That gives us the new opportunities."
Jessica Buttimer, a marketing executive at wireless speaker-maker Sonos, has worked with Pandora's creative teams and believes that media companies can often bring more insights to ad creation because they know their audience better than anyone.
Ms. Buttimer said she doesn't believe that agencies "will be completely disintermediated" but does believe that many big global agencies have become "stale" and are too focused on global and digital trends at the expense of having a good handle on local tastes and trends.


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Submitting your small business credit card application online is one of the fastest ways for you to get immediate approval.
One thing you always want to pay attention to before you apply for that
new small business credit card
is the credit history requirements. If you have an average or below average credit history, then you should only apply for those type credit cards. Don't apply for a credit card that requires a higher than average credit history, this will more than likely only lead to a disappointment for you. Applying for the cards you know you are qualified for will make the
small business credit card processing
much smoother.
In today's market there are so many
small business credit card
offers for the new small business owners, you are more than likely to find the perfect card or cards for you. Knowing how you plan to use your small business credit card will help you know what to look for before applying for your perfect card.
Many small business credit cards will offer an attractive 0% introductory APR or a very low interest rate for a limited amount of time.
A couple of questions to ask yourself as you are looking for credit card offers are:
Do you plan to carry a balance on your credit card or will you be able to pay it off each month?
How much available credit are you going to need for any large item purchases?
Other credit card deals that may appeal to the small business owners are the ones that have no annual fees or maybe the rewards type small business credit cards, some offer cash back, frequent flyer miles, free hotel nights and or gasoline rebates.
Once you have found the perfect card, you can apply online in just minutes. Just fill out the small business credit card application and submit your secured online application for a 60 second decision. It is a very fast easy and convenient process.
credit cards for small businesses
small business credit card application - simple small business ideas


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At KS3 we are teaching within the National Curriculum, through project work and focussed tasks. DT is taught on a carousel with food and textiles, pupils spending a third of each year in each department.
In Y7 pupils explore issues of sustainability, designing and making a clock. In this project they further their understanding of mass production techniques, use a variety of materials and processes, such as thermoforming plastics, burnishing of timber, and enamelling copper.using a blow torch. They are also introduced to using computer aided design and manufacture, as well as using more powerful machinery to make their clock.
In Y8 pupils explore robotics, creating a cyberpet. This involves creating and housing an electronic circuit that contains a programmable integrated circuit (PIC) chip. Pupils explore vacuum forming and the use of computer controlled laser cutting to create a case and programme their cyberpet to respond to human interaction and changes in light level. They also experiment with mechanisms.
In Y9 pupils consolidate their understanding and knowledge of product design and of electronics. They investigate the Memphis design movement and create a Memphis inspired dark-reactive colour-changing mood light using a range of materials and techniques.
At GCSE and A-Level pupils study Edexcel product design.
In Y10 pupils undertake a series of small projects, from packaging and use of photoshop through focussed manufacturing using hand and computer controlled tools, to concept designing and prototyping using processes such as 3D printing.
Y11 is dedicated to the coursework, titles for which are dictated by the exam board. Pupils are offered a range such as designing wildlife feeders, mp3 docking stations and fashion jewellery. Theories such as ergonomic design and mass production systems and techniques are studied.
In Y12 pupils produce an electronic computer based portfolio of skills evidenced through taking on a range of design and make tasks, from designing 3d printed scalextric cars to using the wood and centre lathes to make a candlestick. They explore concept designing by way of interior design, and take on a lighting project. Theory aspects are wide ranging, studying materials from the molecular make up of polymers to the use of composites such as carbon fibre, and studying theories such as inclusive design.
In Y13 pupils work more autonomously, taking on individual design tasks following their own interests. They tend to be much more complex in the problems that need to be solved. Theories studied include how design impacts society and major advances in technology.
For more information on GCSE here to link to the Edexcel website or contact Mr Jason Martindale (Head of DT) firstname.lastname@example.com
For more information on A Level here to link to the AQA website or contact Mr Jason Martindale (Head of DT) firstname.lastname@example.com


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I've been enjoying my time off thus far. I've watched television, listened to music, and made Allie breakfast this morning. Good start to the break, This morning I started watching some of the videos from my Digital All Access Pass that I bought from Passion 2011. In the middle of the second one, I started having some thoughts about what was actually occurring. I was watching a worship session, watching others worship to new music that they had just learned. It seemed strange, possibly for one of the first times, that I was watching others worship God. A little weird right? Many readers might take this opportunity to move to the next logical step. The step might be that this is entertainment instead of worship and it's just wrong by principle(and hence why I am watching it and feeling strange) but hear me clearly: they are wrong, uninformed, and overly critical.
I immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was in a place where their feelings made sense. But something felt odd to me still, so I went to YouTube. You know what I found? A whole bunch of videos, posted online, of people worshipping in traditional settings. To traditional hymns. To an organ, sometimes a choir, and whole bunch of awful sounding tones. I mean, really, a lot of it was bad. Very bad.
So I thought, if the contemporary music model is so "wrong" because it allows itself very easily to be recorded and placed in a position where someone might watch it later for, perhaps, entertainment value, why in the world are these churches recording these hymns? There is almost nothing about it that is pleasing to the ear. The camera angles are such that you can rarely see anything of consequence. Why put this on YouTube?
As I struggled with this question, I considered different things: maybe they're trying to advertise their church. Maybe they're trying to pay homage to the old hymns. Maybe they just discovered that you can put things on YouTube and so they decided to try it. Any of these could be right.
But one significant difference stuck out: energy. The Passion videos had energy. I could feel it sitting here on the couch. The traditional videos didn't.
When I lead others in worship, and I tend to do a lot of that, I can tell by the middle of the first song whether or not the energy of the room is anything that can be worked with. I very much believe that though the Spirit is always present, sometimes it manifests itself in ways that are easier seen than other times.
As I sit in Goodson Chapel for worship during the day at Duke, sometimes I feel it, and sometimes I don't.
Over the past four years or so I have tried to experiment in ways that will make my methods of leading more effective. The ways I interact with the musicians, the way transitions are planned, the way the text of songs interacts with other parts of the service, all of this matters.
And I think that is where the contemporary music movement has hit a nail on the head. They discovered a way to be effective. Many of the songs are still used in appropriate times in worship. Many of the songs resemble good musicianship in the layout, form, and overall direction. And because they used a style of music that allows people to really move to and feel within themselves, they reached an inner part of the body and spirit that truly sings. Good music, no matter what the style, does this...but simplistic forms tend to resonate with our inner souls more.
There is a reason that slave songs sounded the way they did.
There is a reason that today's African American Gospel music borrows many themes and styles from old slave songs.
My argument is that I see the contemporary music movement doing and borrowing the same things. That's why, in the mostly-Caucasian world, it tends to invoke more energy in the room. When you hear a worship leader say, "I felt like they were really getting into it." I think this is the principle they are referring to.
Like it or not, in 2011, the traditional services and traditional worship styles of old do not carry the energy. Some may say this can't be true, and I might agree that this is a sad reality, but it is nonetheless a reality. At least I see it like this.
Keeping this in mind, my ultimate question is this: if the Spirit is always present and presumably the Spirit doesn't care what style of music is played, why does it manifest itself inside of this type of music more? How much of that depends on the musicianship of those leading? Do others experience the Spirit in different ways? If yes(most likely), does that manifest itself in ways that speak loudly (and tangibly)?
How do we know?


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Sustainable Holiday Celebration--tonight!
presented by Sustainable Midlands
Come one, come all, save gas and skip the mall!
Join us on November 30th at 5:30 PM at 701 Whaley to shop and socialize with friends while helping protect the environment and sustainably celebrate the holiday season.
Local and Sustainable Gifts
Sustainable Holiday Decorations
Great free food & libations
Hand-made ornaments by local school children
Please contact Ryan Nevius for more information at email@example.com or 803-381-8747.
image via here
2. Go see Cold Souls, playing at The Nickelodeon;
last showing tomorrow night at 8 PM.
Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM
Shandon Presbyterian Activity Center
607 Woodrow St.
4. Holiday Market! Fabulous place to shop for Christmas gifts--put on by
the Junior League of the Midlands.
The Junior League does great things in our community.
December 3-6
Americraft-Cantey Building
SC State Fairgrounds


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The Franklin Center for Global Exchange, through the William F. Clinger, Jr. Award, has made $10,000 available to the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences in support of undergraduate international research. These funds will be awarded to one student or divided between two to four successful applicants who wish to pursue an independent international research project. KSAS freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply. Seniors are not eligible for this award.
Applicants must have financial need, and their independent research project topic, with clear academic goals, must be international in scope. A final paper (approximately 10 pages) must describe the academic results of the study and will be due at the completion of the research project. This paper will be sent to the Franklin Center, with permission to share it with the public.


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equinoctial – adj.
1. Pertaining to a state of equal day and night. equinoctial line, circle (in Milton equinoctial road), the celestial or terrestrial equator. Cf. B. 1 and 2. equinoctial point = Equinox (duh)
divagation – noun.
The action of divagating; a wandering or straying away or about: deviation; digression.
macadamize – verb.
1. a. trans. Originally: to make or repair (a road) according to McAdam's method. In modern use: to cover (an unmade road, etc.) with tarmacadam.
b. trans. fig. To make (a way, etc.) level, even, or smooth; to raze. Now rare. Perh. Obs.
diaphanous – adj.
Permitting the free passage of light and vision; perfectly transparent; pellucid.
burnouse – noun
1. A mantle or cloak with a hood, an upper garment extensively worn by Arabs and Moors. (in Bishop this was spelled "burnoose." ha)


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GRIT, GUTS & IMPACT- Student Edition
Are you looking to explore your passion and turn it into a business? Do you have an idea, but you need a reboot of energy, creativity and collaboration? This workshop experience is made for you. We'll meet in an intimate cohort setting over the course of 3 days at our 35th Street coworking space. Get ready to not only explore your own passion, and your why, but be inspired by other students and their drive to make an impact. You'll come out of the weekend with inspiration, and a clear sense of next steps for your venture.
Detox from finals and reenergize! We have a slots open for our student weekend held from 5/26 - 5/28.
Can't make it for the full weekend? Join us for a free dinner and happy hour with other students as we close our weekend.
- Connect with your passion, and explore your why. This reset will help energize and re-focus you.
- Dig in and develop a story that ties your student and professional experience to your future impact.
- Who do you want to reach or empower with your work? Explore the "who" and develop your personal branding.
- Nobody likes research (well, almost nobody!) which is why we're going to tackle it together to help you identify your market.
- We'll unpack our adaptation of lean canvas, and we'll identify your goals and next steps as a student in impact.
- You know, an entrepreneur like you is made in times of testing, and vision is key. You'll leave with a strong vision for your future impact.
schedule at a glance
We'll meet Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 - 9 pm at our space at 710 West 35th Street.
Food and drinks will be provided each day, we love to cook up delicious dishes here in our space!
We'll end the weekend with a free, festive back-yard happy hour and dinner open to all student entrepreneurs and creatives. Founders will be onsite to chat. This is an awesome networking opportunity.
Over the weekend we'll also get out of the office and explore the many sides of social impact from the perspective of local grassroots entrepreneurs.
Themes include:
- Civic Engagement
- Diversity in Arts & Entertainment
- Nonprofit Empowerment
upcoming weekends
- March 31 - April 2 (Creative Professionals)
- April 28 - 30 (Women in Impact)
- May 26 - May 28 (Student Edition)


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We are part of a generation that is clued up about human trafficking; more so than our parents, much more so than our grandparents. We're in the middle of a movement to end slavery for good and that is exciting. Advocates have gone before us, lobbying, campaigning and researching, and now it's our turn. The eradication of human trafficking is something that I want to see, and it's so exciting that I can be part of that. And yet I am continually frustrated by my own apathy.
I'm confident that trafficking, particularly sex-trafficking, is something that God has put on my heart. I go to events, I listen to panellists, I read articles, I learn some stats, I get fired up that I can be the change, I commit to pray, to give, to volunteer, to campaign and then…well, forget? Not exactly. I just, don't. I don't think this is a generational thing, particularly. I know so many of my peers who have a passion and have gone for it, and I am so inspired by their tenacity, but I don't think I'm entirely alone in my passivity.
Part of my problem is the age-old question, 'What can I do?' I'm not running the country, making decisions, I don't have money, influence… But just this weekend I've been teaching that we have influence to lead from within a congregation, that we have even more power than the person at the front. Do we really believe that? If we want to start taking a stand, making a statement from where we sit, in our twenties, we have to.
Buoyed up and ready to change the world at the beginning of last year, I sat down at my laptop in turmoil. What did I search? 'Brothels in Hammersmith'? (In case you're wondering, I did, and I can now give you details on many escort services in my local area…) After less than half an hour at my computer, I gave up. Opportunities to volunteer with sex-trafficked women, apparently, don't just fall into your lap.
But my complaints of 'it's too difficult' and 'what difference can I make?' are just a cover-up for my laziness. God has not called us to a life of apathy and making excuses. Jesus was hard-working, tenacious, perseverant. He didn't rest on the fact that he was God, he didn't just exist, he did stuff! How many times have I been at church and prayed, 'God take away my chains of apathy' and then gone home to watch Gogglebox and forgotten all about whatever it was that had convicted me?
We have God's power in us; the same that inhabited Jesus. We are influential, useful, and so so able. For me, I need to translate that knowledge into action. So, it's baby steps. It has to start with prayer, we need to show God that we're serious, so I'm starting by praying for those oppressed by sex-trafficking with some friends. Because when we commit to praying together, we actually do it!
I want this to be an encouragement, not a guilt-trip. If there's an injustice that has been lying dormant in you for months, even years, don't ignore it. Take hold of the promise that you are influential where you are, shake that apathy, and, with Christ in you and with you, do something about it!
(Photo: Ryan McGuire | Flickr)


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This morning, I was expecting 492 copies of Dan Brown's Lost Symbol to arrive with our UPS order. I greeted the driver at the door with a big smile and eagerly helped catch the boxes. My grin disappeared when only one measly box of the Lost Symbol showed up.
Was it a 492-book carton? Was Dan Brown's new opus just a slim, stapled pamphlet retailing for $28.95? No. The box contained a single 12-copy floor display. We were missing 480 copies of our order.
I did what any normal book buyer would do in this day and age. I tweeted about the problem. I figured it was the fastest way that I could reach as many Random House people as possible. I also called my rep in a panic. We are not expecting Dan Brown to save our year or even our month, but we sure don't want to look silly by running out of the most hyped book of the year an hour after its release.
The books arrived a couple of hours later (it only felt like a month as I could hear every one of my racing heartbeats vibrating through my body during those long minutes) on three big pallets that also contained the missing 400 copies of Jon Krakauer's new book Where Men Win Glory.
The much ballyhooed Fall season is here. It officially starts tomorrow with the release of these two monster titles. It's a season packed with big, exciting, wonderful books that is supposed to save publishing and by extension bookselling.
Perhaps, if every season were filled with great books rather than an endless supply of schlock, unsupported midlist titles and pathetic trend followers, the industry wouldn't be so far in the hole that it would need saving.
After writing a blog post about Random House's bounty of remarkable Fall books a few months ago, it seems that I have become one of the people in the industry that the media likes to contact whenever they need some prognostication work. I'm not Nostradamus, but I'm happy to play him on the phone which is what I did when the Christian Science Monitor and Bookselling This Week called recently.
I don't think it's possible for one, two or even 10 great books to change the landscape in publishing and bookselling, even in the short term. The issues plaguing bookselling (fewer people reading, the devaluation of books by making them loss leaders and books competing against exciting new technological gadgets and games) are ingrained in our culture, our economy and our educational system. These are systematic problems that aren't going to go away.
If we sold every copy of the Dan Brown and Jon Krakauer books in the month of September and we're able to retain all of last year's September business, the store wouldn't even be up 10% for the month. Not exactly a seismic jolt. We certainly wouldn't complain, but it's just one month in an otherwise dismal year. It's more likely that we won't sell out of the Lost Symbol and Where Men Win Glory, and even more likely that we won't be able to match our September 2008 business.
No, we are going to have to win this battle (and I believe it is a battle for the intellectual soul of this culture) one book, one customer at a time over a period of years. There aren't any easy answers, or magic solutions. There won't be any sighs of relief or rejoicing for a long time.
Our opportunity with the Fall books is that we can win over a few people as more permanent customers when they buy one of these blockbusters. Of course, that is if they aren't grousing about the fact that we are selling Dan Brown at a $29.95, instead of $16.00 like the giant warehouse stores.
Heck, they might not even buy the blockbusters at our store. Let's face it, you can't buy a 32-pack of toilet paper, a gallon of ketchup or a 10-pound block of cheese while you're here. At least we have gourmet chocolate and lots of copies of the books.


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For decades, a/e specialist advisors have instructed design professionals to eliminate the word "supervise" from the owner/prime design consultant agreement, and to make it clear that safety on the jobsite is the sole responsibility of the general contractor. The idea being that these instruction prevent anyone from making the argument that architects and engineers somehow share a duty to keep construction workers free from harm. This approach has served us well over the years, but times have changed. Personal injury attorneys have become more aggressive and design professionals are generally unaware of the legal traps jobsite observation has created for them.
"Complying with all laws" during design and construction
Consider this situation: You have been awarded a commission to design a building for a new client. You propose using the AIA's Standard Form of Agreement B101 as your owner-architect contract, but the client insists you sign a version of the B101 "with just a few minor changes." You notice that one of those changes requires you to "comply with all laws, rules, and regulations," rather than, as the B101 states, to "review laws, codes, and regulations applicable to the Architect's services." That changed language should be setting off alarm bells for you.
Indemnification: Limit it to Damages Resulting from "Tort" Claims
A recent court decision requiring an engineer to indemnify and defend its client, a project owner, against a routine contractor claim is a wakeup call to further clamp down on indemnification language so that only those damages resulting from tort claims against the indemnitee based on the negligence of the design professional will be indemnified, and that there will be no duty whatsoever to defend such claims.
Porous Piety: Unwritten "Contracts" Cost Far More Than the Paper They Aren't Written On
Most people, and most professionals in particular, know what they should do. It is the stuff of aspirational New Year's Resolutions and Twelve Step Plans. Yet even those readily acknowledged "right principles" often fall to the wayside of neglect and outright avoidance. The mind and heart acknowledge and are willing, but the follow through falters. Nowhere is this more true for the world of design and construction professionals than in the arena of written/unwritten contracts. It may result from the enthusiasm to jump straight into the work, unresolved contract negotiations, or an attitude that the contract just isn't that important.
Selecting the Right Professional Liability Broker
For design professionals, finding the right insurance broker can present a challenge. You need someone with ample experience handling the professional liability needs of architects and engineers, and who offers a wealth of value-added services. Only if your broker has a comprehensive understanding of what you and your firm are all about can he or she be of real use to you.
If You Build It, They Will Sue: Condominium Projects – Part I
Endorsements, Certificates of Insurance, and Other Tools for Evidencing Coverage: Why You Can't Always Have It Your Way
Design professionals are often asked by their clients to sign contracts that include comprehensive—sometimes unreasonable—insurance requirements and indemnification terms. These are usually drafted with the goal of protecting owners, clients, contractors, or other project participants. But how does this work when the required coverages aren't found in the commercial insurance marketplace?


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Mushrooms are the fruit of fungi
rob loucks
Spring time is morel season!
Unfortunately, we didn't find any on Friday, but we did learn about them.
Marc and Patrick organized an extensive Team Meeting of fungi learning. For instance, did you know that mushrooms are the fruiting body of a fungus? Similar to the apple on a tree and its roots.
Nik gave us a deep overview of fungus. Leah shared tons of information about classifying and identifying different mushroom species. Brad gave us some great pointers for mushroom foraging. Travis even taught us how to grow our own!
After enjoying a cup full of Patrick's mushroom soup, we tested our knowledge out on the trails of Tryon Creek State Park. A lucky few even found some slime molds and some edible puffballs.
Bonus knowledge: ALL mushrooms need to be cooked before they're eaten. Word on the street is to saute them with butter.


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This months rune is Thurisaz, also called Thurs or Thorn which equates in English to the sound "th". It is the third rune of the first aett and when looking at it's shape you will see that it resembles a thorn, which can be a good way to remember it's meaning as well as it's name. The energy of Thurisaz is very intense, much like last month's rune Uruz, and working with it tends to bring a similarly intense energy into our lives.
In the three rune poems Thurisaz is given a dark meaning, although we will see that modern runesters have found a positive side to it.
In the Anglo-Saxon poem it is compared to thorns in a briar parch which cut those who touch it and cruelly entangles those who stumble into it.
"The thorn is exceedingly sharp,
uncommonly severe on all who sit among them." (http://www.ragweedforge.com/rpae.html)
Norwegian: "Giant causes anguish to women;
misfortune makes few men cheerful." (http://www.ragweedforge.com/RunNRPe.html)
And the Icelandic: "Giant
and cliff-dweller
and husband of a giantess" (http://www.ragweedforge.com/rpie.html)
In divination when Thurisaz appears it often represents a warning about the need for strong defenses, as well as the possibility that you have become entangled in a situation which could be harmful to you. It presages delays and complications to plans and tells to carefully assess and think through your position before proceeding. In some cases it can indicate feeling trapped or feeling overwhelmed by other more aggressive people. It is a call for strong protection and can mean a level of unexpected chaos or conflict coming your way.
In magic Thurisaz is a strong defensive rune which can be drawn in a protective circle around you <points facing out!> to ward off harm or ill intent. When drawn or carved on a sharp object, such as a knife, it can be used to draw evil beings out of a person or place, and carved <again point out> at the corner of your property it can be an effective warding. Because it is a potent energy it can be traced on the forehead to increase energy or mental clarity. When you feel threatened or as if you are under attack it can be visualized being "thrown" at the negative energy to break it up and disperse it. It is also used in cursing, being carved on the Nidstang, and referenced in the Galdrabok as a spoken curse combined with other runes.
Because it is such a strong aggressive energy it can be intense to work with so be prepared. I recommend doing the same visualization I suggested with Fehu - meditating on the rune's shape and letting images come to you from it's energy, then recording what you see in a journal. Thurisaz is not a rune to play around with for fun, but it's energy can be the best defense in some situations, especially when you feel helpless or overwhelmed.
Next month : Ansuz
Taking Up the Runes by Diana Paxson
Galdrabok by Stephen Flowers