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Me as a woman or woman's appearance. !..
This photo was taken during the 'acid attack against girls & women' in the several cities of Iran in 2014, Actually this image is about my search for identity as a woman.
A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer.
a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph:
a gallery of family portraits.
: a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person that usually only includes the person's head and shoulders
: a detailed description of something or someone
: a way of printing a page so that the shorter sides are on the top and bottom and the longer sides are on the left and right
Word Origin and History for portrait Expand
1560s, "a figure, drawn or painted," a back formation from portraiture or directly from Middle French portrait, from Old French portret (13c.), noun use of past participle of portraire "to paint, depict" (see portray ). Especially of the head and face of a person.
from wikipedia :Visual appearance, the way in which objects reflect and transmit light
the way that someone or something looks.
"I like the appearance of stripped antique pine"
synonyms: look(s), air, aspect, mien
"her disheveled appearance"
an impression given by someone or something, although this may be misleading.
plural noun: appearances
"she read it with every appearance of interest"
synonyms: impression, air, image, show, outward show; More
an act of performing or participating in a public event.
"he is well-known for his television appearances"
the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public:
the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso inAïda; her first appearance at a stockholders' meeting.
the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect:
a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.
outward show or seeming; semblance:
to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.
Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances:
By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.
Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.


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Dr. Goldner's BEST SELLING BOOK is a must have for both men and women at all levels of their professional career...
"As a new mom just coming back from maternity leave, this book was very timely for me. It is so helpful to hear Dr. Goldner's perspective on this important topic. It is a hugely personal decision and so helpful to be provided with a toolkit to help define personal expectations. Importantly, this book is comprehensive and without judgment or bias. Because of that, it is accessible for all types of women with different life goals. An overall quick read if you don't work through the "Your Turn" exercises but they add real value to your journey." -Elaine Goldstein-
"Both men and women can learn how to integrate their roles and have a fuller, richer life from this wise and timely book. Kudos to Dr. Goldner for publishing such a positive message!" -Kimberly Steele-
"I am in my 40s and this book would have been so helpful if I'd read it in my 20s, right when I got out of college. The stories of successful women and how they balance their personal and professional lives was extremely beneficial and insightful. I think if this were taught as a course or workshop where people could engage with others on the same path it would bring even more value. I would definitely recommend reading and keeping this in your career reference library." -C. Nixon-

subset: commoncrawl


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Sometimes I will be in the process of painting and a particular color or shape will begin to define a shape or an idea. Following these mini spouts of inspiration often lead me to a messy page which the viewer has a hard time processing since they were not able to follow every movement of the piece. For me, art is a malleable time based phenomenon that changes depending on how one views it. With time, an artist can shape a piece into a different direction, add clarity to rough edges, and begin to layer in emotions and feelings to what are essentially just colors and lines.
I enjoyed playing around with animation that showed a piece developing; I feel it gives the viewer an appreciation of small parts of the painting that they would otherwise look over or not understand. Here is a quick playback of the above painting.


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Consider VFDs for Centrifugal Pumps
Such drives may provide energy savings and avoid operating problems.
Variable frequency drives (VFD) offer a useful control option for the motors of many types of reciprocating and centrifugal equipment. For instance, VFDs can deal with centrifugal-pump suction recirculation problems; running at lower speed can help reduce damage and operating difficulties.
To understand how to apply VFDs effectively, you must know the characteristics of the system and the equipment. So, let's look at a general procedure that can serve as a good starting point for evaluating specific cases — realizing, of course, that it can't cover every possibility.
To evaluate a VFD application, we need the following:
• system information on pressure drop versus flow;
• pump performance curves for the existing impeller;
• pump performance curves for the maximum impeller; and
• pump inlet eye dimensions.
Ideally, the performance curves should include pump head, pump efficiency and net positive suction head (NPSH) required versus flow rate. Pump heads and efficiencies at various speeds are useful.
Often, only incomplete information is available. So, you may need to extrapolate to fill in missing information.
A VFD evaluation involves multiple steps, each looking at a specific item. Below are the basic steps. (Some cases won't need every step while others may require additional ones. The information available and needed as well as the number of cases to be evaluated determine what must be done.)
1. Define the system curve.
2. Examine the pump curve for the existing impeller at fixed speed.
3. Plot a flow rate versus speed curve for the installed impeller.
4. Determine the best efficiency point (BEP) flow rate versus speed for the maximum impeller.
5. Examine NPSH versus flow rate.
6. Plot flow rate versus suction specific speed (Nss) for using the VFD to control.
7. Define operating fraction of BEP flow versus Nss.
8. Compare the operating flow fraction versus Nss to good practice.
9. Evaluate pump suction energy to determine the NPSH margin.
10. Check power available.
11. If the results of operating flow fraction versus Nssand pump suction energy evaluation are unacceptable, assess alternative solutions.
The system curve plots the required differential head versus flow rate. The system curve includes both static head requirements for elevation and pressure change and dynamic head requirements from pressure drop.
Most often, only a pump curve at a single fixed speed is available. This typically is a nominal 1,800 or 3,600 rpm for 60-Hz motors and 1,500 or 3,000 rpm for 50-Hz motors. (In such cases, you can generate curves for other speeds by using the affinity law: pump head varies as the square of pump speed.)
Plotting the pump curve for fixed-speed operation shows how much savings a VFD might provide. If the pump curve and system curve don't intersect at a higher flow than for the given pump, the pump is too small. A VFD can help here by raising the pump's operating speed to a higher-than-standard rpm so the pump curve and system curve intersect at the desired flow rate — but at the expense of higher power requirements.
Evaluating pump performance requires a BEP versus speed curve for the maximum diameter impeller. BEP flow typically varies linearly with both pump diameter and speed.
An NPSH curve also is necessary. If only available at one point, NPSH can be extrapolated based on the flow rate squared. However, this will underestimate NPSH requirements at low flow rates. So, it's always best to use an actual NPSH curve.
Based on pump speed versus flow, plot a curve of Nss versus flow [1]. Also plot a curve of fraction of BEP flow (at that speed for the maximum impeller). Figure 1 shows an example plot of flow versus Nss and fraction of BEP flow versus Nss.
Good practice suggests a maximum NSS of roughly 8,500 for a turndown of 50% on a centrifugal pump. Consult ANSI/HI 9.6.3-2012 [2], which is the most commonly accepted good-practice definition for flow flexibility on centrifugal pumps, to get an idea of the reasonable operating range of a specific pump with a VFD.
Suction energy [3] is another, more recent, measure of suitability for running at low liquid rates. So, compare the pump performance to suction energy values. The lower the suction energy, the more likely the pump will operate successfully.
The pump efficiency curve varies with the percent of BEP. Use the efficiency curve to compute power. At very low turndowns, savings might not be as great as expected. When operating above standard speeds, power consumption may be very high.
If the VFD analysis shows problems may persist, consider changing either the process or adding additional features to protect the pump from low flow [4].
ANDREW SLOLEY, is a Chemical Processing contributing editor. You can e-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com
1. Sloley, A. W., "Cut Pump Speed to Cut Problems," Chemical Processing, September 2009.
2. ANSI/HI 9.6.3-2012, "Rotodynamic (Centrifugal and Vertical) Pumps — Guideline for Allowable Operating Region," Hydraulic Institute, Parsippany, N.J. (2012).
3. Burdis, A. R., "Improved Pump Hydraulic Selection Reduces Cavitation Risk," p. 39, Hydrocarbon Processing, August 2004.
4. Sloley, A. W., "Properly Protect Centrifugal Pumps," Chemical Processing, July 2007.


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Turner & Gray Large Wallpaper Gems.
A selection of decorative adhesive jewels ideal for adding a touch of sparkle to your wallpaper.
Just peel off the gem from the back card and stick.
Packet includes 30 large wallpaper gems in various shapes
Available colours:
- Pink
- Black
- Silver
30 pack.
Browse more Wallpaper Gems online, and buy in-store at B&M.


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Just Dont Care Top
Lovers + Friends
Lovers + Friends
Estimated Delivery : Sep 23 - Sep 24
FREE Shipping & Returns
FINAL SALE: No returns or exchanges
Return within 30 days if unopened and unused
- No worries babe. The Just Don't Care Top by Lovers + Friends is for the bold and carefree. With off-the-shoulder styling and sexy crop fit, pair it with the Just Don't Care Bottoms by Lovers + Friends to seal the deal for a head-turning look to shake the haters off.
- 82% polyamide 18% elastane
- Hand wash cold
- Elastic stretch fit
- Revolve Style No. LOVF-WX128
- Manufacturer Style No. LFSW414 R16
- Modeled in size XS.
- Model Measurements: Height 5'9", Waist 24", Bust 32", Hips 34"
- Size Guide
Constantly inspired by the laid back Los Angeles lifestyle in which the brand was founded, Lovers + Friend exudes ease and wearability, creating an effortlessly chic look that is California cool.
If an item you would like to purchase is out of stock, you can place a Special Order Inquiry. REVOLVE will then check the availability and obtain an approximate arrival date for the item, if available. Typically, it takes up to 3-4 weeks to verify this information.
Placing a Special Order Inquiry is absolutely free and there is no obligation to follow through with a purchase.
- You will be notified by email once we receive the item.
- You may cancel at any time without penalty
- Your card will ONLY be charged when your order is shipped.
- Availability is not guaranteed.


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From 1516 to 1523 Jørgen Hanssøn ruled over the Bergenhus fortress and castle. He did some important new constructions, easily seen in today's compound.
Jørgen Hanssøn was høvedsmann, i.e. the Kings commander. He supported Christian II, the last Roman Catholic regent of Denmark and Norway (below), and followed him into exile in the Netherlands in 1523. He also plotted to get the king back on the throne 1531-1532.
Jørgen Hanssøn died in the Netherlands after 1546.
During his 6 years he extended the wall, making the compound larger. These walls are easily spotted today, and is marked with a small plaque. He also made other fortifications. These are no longer visible, as they were built into the impressive Rosenkrantz Keep.
His walls are built out of solid stone, and is located on the back of the fortress, towards the steep hills.
More castles on Enjoy Food & Travel
Rosenborg Castle - a royal country house
Schwerin Schloss - noble residence through 1000 years
More on the sights of Bergen, Norway
See story on Bergen from A to Z 2007-2009 here


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The University of Notre Dame has denied official recognition to a student club that supports traditional marriage. On April 30, the university's Club Coordination Council (CCC) voted not to approve the application of Students for Child-Oriented Policy (SCOP) for official club status.
SCOP's Facebook page identifies it as "a group of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Notre Dame who are focused on the debate about marriage taking place in Indiana."
The Indianapolis Star reported on the ongoing marriage debate in a May 21 article, "State GOP platform reopens gay marriage debate," noting:
Indiana Republicans will vote in June on a proposed platform that reasserts the party's support of traditional marriage, a move that likely will lead to another GOP showdown over gay rights.
This renewed debate comes after the state legislature — with Republicans having large majorities in the House and Senate — effectively delayed until 2016 a public referendum on a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. The legislature also removed a clause that would have banned civil unions.
Margaret Hnatusko, director of Notre Dame's student activities office, gave the following reasons for turning down SCOP's application in her April 30 letter:
We consider the general purpose of a club, uniqueness to campus, proposed activities, a clear constitution, a strong understanding of budget planning, projected membership, opportunity for membership among other things.
The ... mission of your club closely mirrored that of other undergraduate-student clubs on campus which served the intended interests of this club. As such, the Club Coordination Council felt there was not a need for another similar type club.
When we visited Notre Dame's Student Activities webpage and searched under the listing of student groups, we found no other student group whose mission even remotely resembled SCOP's — not to mention any that "closely mirrored" the proposed student club. (Though, curiously, for a university described in a Fox News article about this event as "the iconic Catholic institution," Notre Dame does have an officially sanctioned Muslim Student Association.)
Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown also repeated Hnatusko's assertion of redundancy in a statement to FoxNews.com on May 20:
SCOP is one of six proposed clubs whose applications were denied this spring, and 31 percent of club applications have been denied over the past five years, most for the same reason — duplication of purpose. [Emphasis added.]
As noted, a review of Notre Dame's online list of student groups does not reveal another organization whose mission even remotely resembles SCOP's, rendering both Hnatusko's and Brown's explanations specious.
The CCC's decision brought a response from Notre Dame student Tiernan Kane, the prospective president of SCOP:
If [Student Affairs Office] officials and voting members of the CCC read our application documents, as I assume they did, how they could have identified our distinct and timely mission with that of any active university club is beyond me.
The student newspaper from Loyola University in Chicago, The College Fix, reported on May 20 that SCOP launched a petition in March that called on administrators to "make a clear stand in support of the true definition of marriage and to take serious and sustained action to improve the public understanding of this natural institution."
The SCOP petition cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Notre Dame's mission statement, and a university document called "A Pastoral Plan for the Support and Holistic Development of GLBTQ and Heterosexual Students at the University of Notre Dame" to bolster its case. It read, in part: "We understand marriage to be that natural institution that unites one man and one woman in a comprehensive sharing of life 'ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.'"
The Fix also reported in an April 11 article that another group of Notre Dame students countered the SCOP petition with one of their own that said that SCOP's motives "can only be interpreted as discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation." The opposing petition went on to assert that "clearly, [SCOP] is not actually in the pursuit of knowledge and truth, nor do they want what is 'best' for children."
Notre Dame senior Tim Kirchoff, a member of SCOP, told The Fix at the time:
The [counter] petition sought to deny us official recognition as a student club and so the ability to organize events through which to explore and explain our club's perspective. It accused us of not entering into responsible discourse about social science before we had a meaningful opportunity to do so in the context of a wider conversation. There's something just a little silly about that.
The National Catholic Register (owned by the EWTN television network) quoted Notre Dame law professor Gerard Bradley, who was prepared to serve as SCOP's faculty adviser. Bradley said "utter ignorance" of SCOP's stated mission — to advocate for child-friendly policies from a basis of reason — could explain the CCC decision.
Another possible motive, Bradley said, could be "sheer hostility against what SCOP stands for," an explanation he called "more disturbing." Bradley continued,
SCOP is trying to do in public policy about the family exactly what the Church has asked all Catholics to do: namely, to do what it can to make sure that children are raised by their mother and their father and to make this case in the public square on reasonable grounds accessible to anyone who cares to think about the issues.
The Register also quoted Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, whose stated mission is to promote and defend faithful Catholic education.
"It's the new political correctness. In certain Catholic circles, anti-Catholicism is the new cool," Reilly said. "Very often, the same students who scream censorship in nearly every other instance are the ones who would silence those who promote Catholic teachings. Those who advocate difficult teachings are shunned or ridiculed."
Each year, the Cardinal Newman Society publishes The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, wherein institutions are recommended for their "fidelity and excellence." In 2014, only 28 of the nation's 244 colleges identifying themselves as Catholic made Newman's list. Notre Dame was not one of the 28.
The university that Fox News described as an "iconic Catholic institution" — whose unique fame may have been derived more from the history of its "Fighting Irish" football team coached by the beloved Knute Rockne ("win just one for the Gipper") than for other reasons — has seen more than its share of controversy in recent years.
The New American touched on these controversies in a May 26, 2009 article: "Notre Dame: Tragedy and Hope," noting the granting of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to President Obama, who was honored by being Notre Dame's commencement speaker that year. The bestowal of that honor was fraught with irony, given Obama's role as the nation's most prominent proponent of abortion "rights" and embryonic stem-cell research.
In response to that betrayal of the school's commitment to Catholic (and human) values, Mary Daly, a junior at the university that year and president of the 1,000-member Notre Dame Right to Life group, noted: "My father said he felt like a member of the family had died." Daly's brother and parents were both Notre Dame alumni. "I never wanted to go anywhere else but Notre Dame," she said. "Before I even knew or understood the concept of college, I wanted to go to Notre Dame."
In an interview with the National Catholic Register, Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Vatican's highest court, the Apostolic Signatura, said that Notre Dame should "come clean. Is it Catholic or isn't it? A Catholic institution, a Catholic university, cannot give honors to someone who is a promoter of things that are opposed to the most fundamental beliefs of Catholics."
Conservative Catholic columnist Pat Buchanan responded to the Obama event by publishing a column whose title asked rhetorically, "Is Notre Dame Still Catholic?"
A good question. Perhaps the answer can be found by applying the test found in Matthew 7:20: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Photo of Washington Hall at the University of Notre Dame
Related articles:
Protesting Obama's Notre Dame Invitation
Obama's Commencement Address at Notre Dame


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Podcast (mp3feed): Play in new window | Download
Chet Zar is a multi-disciplined artist who's worked professionally in Hollywood since the late 80s. He's worked for Rick Baker's Cinovation Studios on movies like Men In Black II and the Tim Burton Planet of the Apes movie, as well as a stint at Mike Elizalde's Spectral Motion on the Hellboy and X-MEN series of films. Lots more stuff too. Anyone remember Darkman or Warriors of Virtue? Yeah, he worked on those too.
He currently makes a living doing original fine art illustrations and has a new kickstarter documentary about his life and work called I LIKE TO PAINT MONSTERS.
We talk about that and more in this wide-ranging chat.
Upcoming Events
- May 23rd – Solo Art Show in New York, NY at the Last Rites Tattoo & Art Gallery.
- June 6th @ 6PM – Screening of I Like To Paint Monsters in Albuquerque, NM at the Kimo Theater.
- September 18th – Curating Art Exhibit at the Son of Monsterpalooza show in Burbank, CA.
- November 21st – Booth and Artwork For Sale at the DesignerCon in Pasadena, CA.
Music Used In The Podcast
- Elsiane; buy all their albums. They're awesome.


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Original Creed
Watashi wa gaikokujinnoyouni hanasemas,
shikashi Kenyajinnoyouni hashirimas
I speak like a foreigner, but I run like a Kenyan
What should I find waiting in my mailbox today? Nothing other than the Hiroshima Peace Marathon confirmation forms. I did it. I have successfully gone through the Japanese bureaucratic process to sign up for a race. Look for me out there. I will always offer you "gambatte". Maybe not if you're wearing a costume, though... Let's face it, I'm scary enough as a foreigner. If they celebrated Halloween in Japan all the candy would be ours.
Peace Marathon Contact Information
Chugoku Shimbum, 7-1 Dobashi-cho
Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0854
TEL: 082-234-4679 (English)
- Remember: 12:00 start time for the 5k, 12:20 for the 10k on November 3rd, a national holiday.
- It is too late to register. Race day registration is not allowed. Run it bandit if you want.
- For spectators: hold up a sign saying "Chuck Norris wouldn't stop" during the final leg. It worked wonders for me in the Boston Marathon.
My Expert Village Marathon Training videos are now online. I know, I make some really obvious comments and some bad generalizations, but I do know what I'm talking about. God I sound like I'm at one of those post-game football interviews: "gotta give 110%, I want to thank God, it was hard out there, but hard is good..." Heh.
My solution to the muscle mass problem. Naturally, I was looking for a replacement to Smoothie King or some store that could offer cheap, healthy, protein and vitamin-packed drinks. As such, no store like that exists. But there are some products from Weider that offer the same type of supplements - protein, multivitamins, etc. Cheap, and available from almost all stores.
The weather is cool, sunny, and breezy. The humidity is dead. The spiders are still very much alive. Help me help you, but only as far as reading an online blog goes... ima hashirite!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Eye of the Tiger
Posted by Turner at 9:23 AM
Labels: running in Japan
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The Webb School recently announced its A and B honor rolls for the first quarter of the 2013-14 school year.
An independent college preparatory day/boarding school for grades 6-12, The Webb School is the oldest continuously operating school of its kind in the South. The school has a dual emphasis on academic excellence and character development.
The following Cannon County residents earned B Honor Roll status:
Readyville – Dustyn Kilgore; and
Woodbury – Anderson Keathley.
For more information about The Webb School visit www.thewebbschool.com.


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A Writer's Process: Cherry Gilchrist/
Just over a year ago, I sat alone in the house, struggling to write a book proposal.
I was on a deadline to turn out a detailed outline for a book on the Tarot, along with a sample chapter, and marketing back-up too, such as the 'why my book is different' pitch. I had an invitation to submit to a publisher in the USA, so all I had to do was develop the idea.
I say 'all', but it's one of the hardest parts of writing a book. I mostly write what I call 'creative non-fiction', a mix of personal experience, imagination, ideas, and real-life observation, rather than a dry compilation of facts.
I'm with biographer Michael Holroyd when he says its high time we found a better word rather than slapping a 'non' label on it.
But nevertheless, it is not the same as novel writing and needs a firm hand in the early stages to map out the course of the book. I need to work out how I am going to develop the ideas; the blueprint that I lay down now will inevitably guide the way I write the book later on. The outline embodies my vision, and must sustain the spirit of the book. So it's worth trying to get it right at the beginning.
The proposal writing usually marks a new stage for me, when I'm well along the line with gathering thoughts and material and am ready to shape them.
I've learned over the years that ideas take their time, and you can't hurry them too much. But I've also learned to love deadlines, which concentrate the mind wonderfully and stop me from being too precious about my work.
So here was a deadline – the publisher's December acquisitions meeting – and I took the opportunity to write the proposal on a solitary retreat at home, while my husband visited his family in Yorkshire. I do not normally shut myself away as a writer – I've written on planes and trains, in hotel rooms, cafes and odd corners. But on this occasion, I embraced the chance. The days fell into a pattern; I interspersed long hours at the keyboard with blissful walks by the river Exe in the late autumn sunshine, and cooked myself simple meals - baked potatoes, fried eggs and chocolate featuring prominently on the menu! And I resisted the temptation of diverting to admin or domestic tasks. The windows will always need washing – leave them until another day.
At the end of the five days, I had finished the proposal; the publishers liked it, issued a contract, and in early 2015 I started writing 'Tarot Triumphs'. I wish that were the end of the story!
But some months later came a bolt out of the blue – they were going out of business.
It was a huge shock, but I hastily revised the manuscript into a 'good-enough' state, and after further submissions, it was accepted by Red Wheel Weiser. Publishing is tough: a writer has to be philosophical, and my view is that some you win, some you lose, and better not to become embittered along the way. I'm keeping my fingers crossed now that there won't be any further glitches, and the story will end here.
Tarot Triumphs: Using the Tarot Trumps for Divination and Inspiration, by Cherry Gilchrist Red Wheel Weiser, to be published Fall 2016.


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Varsity boys soccer playoffs
Hunter Huss 4, Wilkes Central 2 � Seth Jones (two goals), Noah Sale (one goal) and Julian Gonzalez (one goal) led Hunter Huss. Sale, Jones and Junior Tellez dished out one assist each for the Huskies (13-8-1), who will travel to Central Academy of Technology and Art in Monroe on Saturday in the second round.
Lincoln Charter 3, Pine Lake Prep 2 � Daniel Moore had two goals, while Caylon Nagy added one goal as the Eagles advanced in the 1A playoffs. Danny Aguilar dished out two assists for Lake Norman Charter (13-9), while Isaiah Smith had five saves. Lincoln Charter visits Thomas Jefferson in the second round.
Marvin Ridge 9, Kings Mountain 0 � The Mountaineers finished 9-14-1. Jarrett Ledford made several strong saves for the Mountaineers that helped extend the contest to the second half, where it ended 13 minutes into the half.
Avery 3, Highland Tech 0 � Highland Tech finished 5-13-1.
Highlands 5, Cherryville 1 � Cherryville finished 1-17-2.
West Caldwell 5, East Lincoln 1 � East Lincoln finished 9-12-1.
Middle school soccer
Chavis 1, Stanley 1 (Chavis wins 3-0 in penalty kicks) � Wesley Reynolds scored in regulation for Chavis. Reynolds, Haylinton Talaveren and Nick Carpenter tallied goals during the penalty kick session. Hunter Melton recorded the win in goal. Chavis (1-0) hosts Mount Holly on Monday.
Middle school volleyball
Chavis 3, Stanley 2 (25-11, 21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-3) � Brylee Byrd (37 service points), Mary Beth Wyatt (16 service points) and Allison Raines (16 service points) led Chavis (1-0), which hosts Mount Holly on Monday.
Holbrook 3, Mount Holly 0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-14) � Holbrook standouts were Emilie Parker, Carson Thompson and Sydney Baxter.
East Gaston�s girls golf team tied for eighth in the 3A state golf championships, which concluded Tuesday. The Warriors� place was listed incorrectly in Wednesday�s edition.
Women�s college soccer
Belmont Abbey 6, Coker 0 � On her 21st birthday, Belmont Abbey senior forward Ananda Gebreyesus netted her first career hat trick, scoring three goals on four shots to lead the Crusaders past Coker. Belmont Abbey, which has won its last four matches, all by shutout, improves to 12-3-1, while Coker, a former Conference Carolinas member, drops to 4-12-1. Meghan Philp gave the Abbey the only goal it would need in the ninth minute. Gebreysus capped the scoring in the first and second halves, while Theresa Mateo and Maggie Moore added one goal each. Belmont Abbey outshot Coker 24-7 and attempted all five corner kicks in the match. Hannah Kohls made three saves for the Crusaders.


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2016 SFOAP Supervision mission in Eastern Africa
The third IFAD supervision mission of the SFOAP main phase in the Eastern Africa region took place from the 4th to the 13th July 2016. The objective of the mission was to critically review the implementation of the Programme by EAFF and their national member organisations (NFOs) and to review progress against the recommendations of the Mid-Term Review. The mission also aimed at providing any implementation support possibly needed by the regional organisation, and mapping out the domains in which further support might be needed.
The team was composed of the IFAD Task Manager, SFOAP Analyst and Financial Management Consultant, and was accompanied by representatives from EAFF.
The mission spent 7 days in Kenya, where consultations were held with EAFF and the Cooperative Alliance of Kenya (CAK), including a half day field visit to a CAK dairy training programme, and 3 days in Rwanda, visiting the national farmers' organisation (FO) IMBARAGA. In Rwanda, two representatives of the Fédération des Organisations des Producteurs Agricole du Congo (FOPAC)also participated to the mission, while the District Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture joined the field visits.
In both countries the mission held consultations with the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency and IFAD Country offices to foster a concrete partnership with FOs at country level. Several FOs participated to the meeting with IFAD country office, including IMBARAGA, the National Cooperatives Confederation of Rwanda (NCCR), the Syndicat Rwandais des Agriculteurs et Eleveurs (INGABO), and FOPAC in Rwanda; and CAK and the Kenya Livestock Producers Association (KLPA) in Kenya. The Conseil de Concertation des Organisations d'Appui aux Initiatives de Base (CCOAIB) also joined the meeting in Rwanda.
According to the mission, the implementation of SFOAP activities is satisfactory. The mission congratulated EAFF for the solid approach adopted for the implementation of SFOAP activities and highlighted how EAFF is on track to complete all activities by the planned completion date of December 2017. EAFF has shown to have a strong leadership and implementation capacity, with a well- structured Secretariat. The fiduciary arrangements in place are adequate for a proper management of funds. The activities have proven to be relevant, are responding to the needs of local and national FOs, and have had a positive impact on farmers and their organisations. Also, most of the MTR recommendations are or are being implemented. The main challenge until the end of the programme remains ensuring that the national and local FOs are in a position to continue their growth and are capable of attracting financing.
In terms of the progress of activities under the different components, Component 3 – Provision of Economic Services, is the most prominent. In order to generate a critical mass of experiences at the national level and facilitate exchanges and knowledge management, the component is focusing on three target value chains (VC): cassava, Irish potatoes and livestock (dairy). At the regional level EAFF has focused its direct technical support to the livestock value chain and hired a livestock expert to support them and the Djibouti Agro-Pastoralists Association (DAPA) with the export of 45 breeding dairy goats from Kenya to Djibouti (see more on this initiative here). The scope of this activity is to increase the milk production of goat farms in Djibouti, and thus increasing their incomes. This is to be done by breeding the more productive Kenyan species with the local ones, more resilient to the climate and environment in Djibouti.
In Rwanda the mission visited a demonstration plot in Rubavu, and held discussions with farmers' groups in Rubavu and Nyabihu. Discussions showed that potato productivity has practically doubled, from 10 to 20 tonnes per hectare as a result of provision of good quality seeds to farmers' groups and the delivering of trainings on good agronomic practices for potato production. Additionally, IMBARAGA accompanied representatives from the supported groups to meet and negotiate with the seed multipliers to ensure a continued and sustainable availability of quality seeds. IMBARAGA is also fostering market linkages with potato processing companies.
In Kenya, CAK supported the training of 200 farmers from Kirinyaga Dairy Coop on Knowledge Management and Learning (KM&L) including field visits and mentorship support provided by a highly successful member, the Muki Farmers' Cooperative. In addition, CAK trained 221 farmers on dairy management topics including calf rearing, milk hygiene and fodder preparation. As a result, the number of active members in Kirinyaga has increased from 300 to 600 and the milk delivery to the co-operative increased from 500 litres of milk per day to over 1,200 litres of milk per day. In recognition of the improvement of governance and increased milk production, the Governor of Kirinyaga County has donated a pasteurizer with the capacity of 500 litres to the co-operative to enhance value addition. The cooperative now sells milk to local schools and hospitals, and have also set up a milk retail shop.
Overall, according to the supervision team, notwithstanding impressive results, FOs should strengthen the medium-to-long term sustainability of their initiatives and recommended them to strengthen downstream market linkages with traders and other buyers.
Finally, three annual KM events will be organised at the national level in Tanzania, Burundi and Kenya around the three commodities (Irishpotato, cassava and livestock (dairy) respectively). The mission suggested FOs to involve IFAD country representatives and to combine them with field level activities and modules for scalability and replication at country level.
In terms of Component 2 – Policy engagement, regional level activitiesfocused mainly on the East African Community (EAC) Cooperative Societies Bill. Following the voting of the Bill in 2015, ratification has occurred in 3 of the 5 EAC member countries. Once the Bill is ratified by all members, the EAFF will organise a regional meeting to discuss and develop strategy for its implementation at the regional level.
At the National level, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) is currently undertaking a major policy consultation process for the development of a district level ordinance on cassava, while it is planned that two other EAFF members will conduct policy research on their respective commodities by 2016. According to the supervision team, this component is a good example of a successful bottom-up approach with strong linkages across components and with the selection of policy topics stemming from activities under component 3, including the identification of major policy gaps that limit the growth of farmers in the value chains.
In terms of Component 1 – Institutional Strengthening,the share of staff salaries covered by SFOAP is declining as per the Mid Term Review recommendations.
Following the meetings with IFAD Country Programmes it was suggested to FOs in DR Congo to focus on improving financial management and procurement standards for a possible participation to the activities of the North Kivu Agriculture Sector Support Project (PASA NK), which is about to start. Similarly, it was suggested to IMBARAGA to focus on supporting the farmers' groups on Irish Potatoes to help them evolve into primary level cooperatives to be considered as potential partners within the Post-harvest Agribusiness Support Project (PASP). Finally, in Kenya fruitful consultations have led to potential partnership opportunities with on going IFAD projects and FOs engaged to share planned activities for 2017 for the development of synergies.
The supervision mission had also a discussion on the progress of activities at the Pan-African Level. EAFF shared the main results of the Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) Special Meeting (December 2015), revolving around the improvement of the Constitution, the approval of the budget and Strategic Plan, and the establishment of the Secretariat. Concerns were raised by EAFF on the way the Women Forum was organized in 2015, with an agenda not stemming from regional FOs (RFOs) initiatives and policies and with pitfalls in the logistics, and on the lack of procedures and periodic reporting on the activities carried out by PAFO Chief Executive Officer and RFOs on behalf of the PAFO constituency. EAFF suggested to fast track the process for the establishment of the Secretariat, urged the deployment of periodic reporting on PAFO activities and the implementation of minimum standards in relation to the roles and functions of PAFO Board.
In addition, the mission and EAFF discussed on post SFOAP and on the need to think around a more tailored approach for regional programmes as well as on the need to soon start the preparation of the Farmers' Forum at regional level.
Please consult the full report from the mission by downloading the document below.
Photo credit: Antonella Cianciotta


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- email@example.com
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Beauty, comfort, style, colour….highlight your hearth.
There is no space that cannot be enhanced with a rug. Do you want to set the focus on your furniture or create a more spacious feeling.
Here are just some of the inspiring rugs in our collection. Have a browse, and use the filters to help you home in on your favourite options.
But remember, these are just some of the rugs you can see in our branches.


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Perfect Wrap Dress For the Office
Maeva is wearing the Marquesa Wrap Dress in WHIRLWIND/grey.
With its Shawl Collar, the Marquesa Wrap Dress modestly cloaks whilst revealing a hint of décolletage.
From office to fine dining, this very versatile dress is cut on the bias, designed to taper in at the waist, and falls gracefully from the hips.
There are a selection of other prints available
2012 Autumn/Winter Call Me Madam


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Washington: A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the new travel ban raising sharp criticism from President Donald Trump. Trump has blasted the ruling blocking his order as a "judicial overreach", a media report said.
Trump on Wednesday said he will go to the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling by Honolulu federal court's Judge Derrick Watson, Efe news reported.
"We're going to fight this terrible ruling. We're going to take this as far as we need to, right up to the Supreme Court," Trump said at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee. The court order came hours before the new travel ban was scheduled to be enforced on Thursday.
Hawaii, Maryland and Washington states have raised their opposition to the new executive order signed by Trump on March 6. Hawaii said that the order discriminates on the basis of nationality and would make it impossible for state residents to be visited by relatives from the six Muslim-majority countries included in the ban.
The state also argued that the travel ban would hurt the state's big tourism industry, as well as the ability to attract foreign students and recruit foreign workers.
The new immigration ban would suspend for 120 days the US refugee acceptance program and bar for 90 days US entry to citizens from Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Libya, taking the stance that they present a terrorism risk.
In contrast to Trump's first executive order signed on January 27 but later blocked in federal court, the new measure would exempt citizens of Iraq and those enjoying permanent US residence.
It also would eliminate the ongoing prohibition on entry for Syrian refugees and the exemption of Syrian Christians from the ban.
The executive order signed by the President also reduces from 110,000 to 50,000 the number of refugees the US would take in during 2017.
Hawaii filed the first lawsuit against the new immigration ban, and attorneys for the island state, the government of which is controlled by the Democrats.
It presented the suit in a Honolulu federal court asking for a temporary suspension of the measure Trump signed on March 6, although it was not scheduled to go into effect until March 16.
"Hawaii is special in that it has always been non-discriminatory in both its history and constitution," Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said.
"Twenty per cent of the people are foreign-born, 100,000 are non-citizens and 20 per cent of the labour force is foreign-born."


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R.I.P. Jay Bennett
Today we say goodbye to the talented Jay Bennett, who brought a wonderful depth of sound to some of Wilco's best-loved records -- particularly my favorites, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Bennett left the band in 2001, but his influence remains stamped on its sound.
Jay Bennett died in his sleep Saturday night, of causes yet to be determined. He was 45. Bennett suffered chronic hip pain for many years, having injured himself from a dive off a stage in the '90s when he was performing with his band Titanic Love Affair.
I'm going to spend the rest of my night listening to his work. His love of music came through in every sound he explored: pump organ, prepared piano, Wurlitzer, Omnichord, Mellotron, piano loops, guitars and Leslie banjos -- and that's just on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot!
Below is a note to fans he wrote on his MySpace page. It's dated Friday, April 24, 2009:
Hip Replacement
Howdy friends,
I feel like I really need to check in and explain my long absence from myspace, and tell you all this little story with a sense of humor and an overall feeling of positive energy, gained from knowing that I am now moving in the right direction. I've been close to bedridden since I last "saw" y'all. After burying my proverbial head in the proverbial sand since last summer, I finally decided it was time I "face the music," and find out what was causing the severe pain and immobility in my right leg. I have had a torn A.C.L. in that knee for many years (caused by a "daring," well, uh, really just ill-planned, and poorly executed, stage jump at Seventh Street Entry in Minneapolis, with Titanic Love Affair), and suspected that time had most likely further worn down, or even torn loose some more cartilage, most likely causing premature arthritis. So, after much prompting from friends and loved ones ("Jay that limp is NOT getting any better"), bright and early one Monday morning I decided to simply open up the Yellow Pages, and find the first Orthopedic Medicine Clinic with an immediate opening and find out what a large part of me did not want to find out. I braced myself for a diagnosis of additional minor knee surgery to remove some "floating" cartilage, and told myself that maybe all I needed was a cortisone shot or two, or something like that...but, something deep down inside was telling me this could well be something bigger and badder (or else why would I have "run" from it for so long). I DID NOT brace myself for THE diagnosis of the need for a complete hip replacement (ball and socket, if you will). I just about fainted when I saw the X-Rays of that hip....holy &%$#*, what a mess I had made. The doctor sized me up at 5'9" (well actually, now a bit shorter than that on one side) and concluded that most likely I was not a basketball player, yet recognized the damage as that typically caused by repetitive high impact sports activity. Well, I knew in a heartbeat that could mean only one thing.... and, yes, you guessed it---a decade plus of multiple nightly stage jumps and various other rock and roll theatrics had finally taken a toll that I could no longer merely "deal with," or ignore, even if I were to change my evil ways (baby). As I dizzily drove home (a drive I can barely remember), I alternately rode waves of the power derived from finally having the knowledge I had both craved and avoided, and of the fear of an uncertain future.
Well, it turns out that these types of injuries don't really heal themselves, as I naively told myself might just magically happen, if I rested that leg, used a cane for a while, and lost a bit of weight. So, major surgery it was to be...the only glitch, I am among our nations under-insured (my previous injury to that leg was listed as a pre-existing condition, and any injury that could be linked to the same root cause, I was told would not be covered). Some time passed as I contemplated my next "move,"---how to come up with the money to pay for the surgery "out of pocket," and as I brainstormed, my hip finally decided to lock up, and the pain got worse. So I began the arduous, or more accurately, extremely time consuming and endlessly frustrating, process of finding a surgeon and hospital that would perhaps "cut me a deal," be willing to bargain/barter a bit, or at least allow me to make installment payments. As it turns out, this is possible, but also difficult to arrange, if you can not come up with a sizable down payment as a show good faith, etc. I have been saving as much money as possible ever since I made this new commitment to my health, my future, and my quality of life, and have sold off some vintage recording gear, whose monetary collectors value now far outweighs it's functional value. As time has passed my mobility has continued to erode, to the extent that, for quite some time now, it has even been difficult to sit at the computer for more than just a few minutes---as I only own an ancient, yet reliable (don't get mad at me baby), old Dell desk top PC, I can't lie on the couch with a lap top and leisurely engage in the cyber world as I had so enjoyed since I made the commitment to enter the 21st century (or at least the late 20th) and interact with all of the wonderful people who have chosen to be my friends on myspace. And, even if I have said it enough already, I'll just keep saying it over and over again; what an thoroughly enjoyable experience it has been, it's like hanging out at a bar talking to folks with similar interests, swapping stories, answering questions, asking questions, getting to know people, reacquainting myself with old cronies, all without having to shout above the music (which I hate, unless of course it is of my choosing)...and I really have missed these interactions on so many levels. I know that I owe many of you mails (my trips to ye olde Dell are painful and now almost non-existent...this note was hand written and transcribed). I also owe some of you input on music that you have sent to me, for these transgressions, I apologize, but trust that you will understand.
I have posted some of the music I have been able to work on during this time period. I have labeled some of the songs as "demos," but you never know with me which ones might just morph into "real" CD versions. The new songs are definitely still "works in progress," and, as always I value any and all input, as I have gained so much from the outside perspective you all have shared with me over the past year---so, don't hold back now. I also put up some new photos, just for yuks...only one of me, though (seriously, who needs to see another picture of me?). Most of my "photos" are still my little online art galley of my paintings and drawings. Perhaps I could have an art opening at the hospital.
I still don't know exactly when my surgery will be, but I have learned a good deal about the procedure, and that has helped to make me MUCH less fearful. The double dose of anxiety caused by the pain, and the quite natural fear of the invasive surgery itself, really had me in its grip for a while, but now it only comes in waves. Once I am able to get a down payment of sorts together and actually have the surgery performed, I have been told that I then have only about six to eight weeks of physical therapy before I should be operating at approximately 80% capacity---these types of joint replacements have come light years in the past five years or so. The way I look at it, I'm functioning WAY below 80% right now, so what do I have to lose? Except a limp, some pain, some anxiety, and some weight. In many ways, I'm really looking forward to it, and wish I could go in tomorrow.
I will keep you all posted as I learn more, as I'm really Jonesing to get this over with, AND to finish up "Kicking at the Perfumed Air" (the CD that just doesn't seem to want to get finished). I will continue to stay as active as I possibly can, making music, and staying in touch with all of you (my friends), as the surgery approaches, and later, whilst I am recovering. With any luck, by mid-summer, I should be a new man (albeit bionic---"we can rebuild him") This whole experience has really taught me to look both inward and outward for support, and I've learned things about myself that I thought I had completely figured out years ago. Family and friends have helped me to keep faith in a future that will actually be much more carefree than my constricted present state. I encourage you all to tell me stories of recovery, as they really do help...if you don't mind. All in all, I'm "in a really good place" right now; I'm just waiting until I can make it all happen. Thanks so much to all of you for downloading "Whatever happened I Apologize," I really hope that you enjoyed it. I greatly appreciated all of the feedback you all gave me---keep it coming on the new stuff, if you feel like it. Again, apologies for my absence, I honestly do care about staying true to my promise to maintain open and interactive relationships with all of you "out there," wherever you may be.
Peace, Love, and Understanding,
Jay Walter Bennett


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How to Work with Brands and Build a Successful Blogging Business – SF first Picture Perfect Event
We Did It!
We could have never imagined such a success but September the 23rd has proven that everything is achievable – all you need is inspiration, creativity, and… a badass team! Our first Picture Perfect event was an amazing beginning for women-only gatherings that boost self-confidence and motivation to build lucrative collaborations with brands. And, most exciting of all, is that this fabulous experience is going to last!
How Many Women Does It Take to Throw an Event?
- 2 to organize and host: Anastasiya Yurinok – fashion, travel, and lifestyle blogger, florist & Anna Voloshyna – food critic, food photographer, recipe developer.
- 3 to help: our wonder girls Marina, Katia, and Valya worked hard to help us to set up and then to clean the venue.
- 2 to document: talented photographer Alfiya and videographer Olga made sure that we all have plenty of photos and videos to share on our social media.
- 25 to attend: SMM gurus, Instagram stars, and other aspiring influencers of the Bay Area.
- 2 to speak: advocates of creative freedom, life changing decisions, and commitment to one's own passion.
The Inspiring Insights
We didn't intend to make Picture Perfect a lecture-style event but the avalanche of insights and ideas was so strong and positively overwhelming that it was worth taking notes not to miss or forget a thing! Elena Saxton, marketing head and one of the owners of Luminance Skincare, shared invaluable tips on how to successfully collaborate with brands and create promising partnerships. Her insider information was like a Big Bang to kick off terrific business endeavors.
Cynthia Samanian – founder of Confetti Kitchen and guru of easy, healthy, and fun cooking – spoke about her own experience of finding a true passion in life and taking real steps to reach out and seize the dream.
Appearances Are Not Deceptive
It was impossible to think of a better venue than the Women's Building which history is infused with the power of enriching women's lives and encouraging personal and business development. This spirit was skillfully accentuated with fantastic design and decorations by Anastasiya Yurinok.
Inflamed With a Taste
Food for thought was accompanied by treats for the taste buds:
- Tartly provided its statement Fruit Shrubs that taste just as vibrant as they look: Lime Mint, Ginger Pear, Blueberry Lemon burst with flavors and natural energy. A perfect example of turning an ingenious idea into a successful business, Tartly was an ultimate contribution to Picture Perfect. Super clean and healthy shrubs were enjoyed throughout the event and included in gift bags for the guests.
- The event's atmosphere was deliciously refreshed by Hint drinks that have all the benefits of plain water but taste much better. Absolutely in tune with the event! Nothing artificial – a symbol of a sincere and natural lifestyle.
- Wine – the irreplaceable palate-pleaser – was kindly provided by ONEHOPE. Dedicated to making the world a better place, the company supports numerous charity, ethical, and environmental programs which is why it was such an honor for us to have them among the sponsors. Lovely Rosé and festive Sparkling made an ideal pairing with Goat Cheese Crostini, Blue Cheese and Glazed Apricots on crackers, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Grilled Peaches & Proscuitto. The flavorsome treats were exclusively cooked by Anna Voloshyna, founder of Viva La Food.
Sharing and Giving
It wouldn't be a truly delightful gathering without gift bags! To enhance the impression with new sensations Luminance Skincare provided testers of their stunning products that are organic, vegan, and raw. Handmade solutions for a healthy glowing skin and inspiring tips from Elena Saxton, the company's co-owner, contributed to making the event utterly memorable.
Etta + Billie bodycare brand was another sponsor of Picture Perfect. A mixture of inspirations from food and sustainability ideas makes Etta + Billie's products exclusively original.
We Just Can't Get Enough!
The first new experience of hosting the Picture Perfect event has triggered quite an ambitious idea of creating a new type of community for female bloggers where every member will find support, understanding, and assistance. (For those who missed it here is the recap video).
If you long for an outstanding networking opportunity, first-hand tips for success, a heartfelt atmosphere, tasty treats and an abundance of creative ideas, do not miss the next Picture Perfect in December! More space, more speakers, more surprises. Stay updated!


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I was an athletic kid from a very early age. In fact, I started playing soccer around the age of 3 and between my brother and I, we logged about 15+ years out on the soccer field every single fall and winter. I remember getting ready for each game, rubbing Dubbin onto our cleats to help make them more water resistant. I also remember my poor parents standing on the sidelines week after week in their trenchcoats and gumboots, huddled with the other parents under their umbrellas, drinking coffee, and trying to stay warm (all the while hoping that the torture would end soon I am sure).
Fast forward 15+ years and now I am a soccer mom. Not only am I a soccer mom, I am also a basketball mom, mountain biking mom, and ski mom for 7 years and counting now. I also live in one of the wettest climates in Canada here on the "wet coast" aka Lower Mainland of British Columbia which makes being an "anything outdoors" mom a pretty soggy task for the most part. And you know what? I rub Dubbin (aka Mink Oil) onto my kids cleats every weekend as well!
Anyways, for most of those 7 years, just like my parents before me, I have bundled up each and every weekend in my classic "soccer mom" outfit of leggings, gumboots, raincoat and toque. It keeps me somewhat dry and somewhat warm, but it's been a lot of years of wearing the EXACT same wet weather look and I am SO over it. Aren't you?!
And really, the gumboot might have its waterproof benefits but dang they are cold and not so comfortable to wear for a length of time or distance.
So come on wet coast moms, we have more style than this! We deserve warmth and comfort! Let's break out of the same old same old and find our own comfortable wet weather style with great alternatives to the classic gumboot!
On my quest to up my soccer mom style game, I enlisted the help of my local Walk With Ronsons store. Together with the somewhat camera shy but super knowledgeable store manager Trang we chatted about various alternatives to the gumboot, and how to keep them safe from the elements this fall and winter using Tana Shoe Products.
If you missed my Periscope of my shopping trip, here's the replay (and please be gentle, it was one of my very first broadcasts!)
Together, my friends on Periscope, Trang and I came up with these great gumboot alternatives. All winter ready, warm and oh-so stylish.
All of these great gumboot alternatives (even the waterproof ones) need to be protected further with Tana Shoe Products of course so Trang sat me down and told me all about the basic Tana leather protection mantra which consists of 4 simple steps (sidebar: don't do this with suede or nubuck, that's a whole 'nother ball game!)
- Clean – using Tana Cleaning Lotion. Use a brush to gently remove any dirt and then rub the cleaning lotion onto your leather with a clean cloth.
- Polish – using Tana Shine Sponge. These super cool, easy to use shine sponges have everything all included in the package so no dipping and rubbing necessary here. Just rubbing 🙂
- Condition – using Tana Outdoor Mink Oil (aka Dubbin). Use mink oil for heavy duty protection and/or leather conditioning. Especially good for your kiddos soccer cleats!
- Protect – using Tana All Protector Spray. Trang suggested always spraying outdoors to avoid harmful fumes and to hold your shoes/boots upside down with specific focus on the seams. And make sure you spray twice! You can even use your All Protection spray for hats, pant hems, coats – you name it!
Now, I am going to keep you all in suspense as to which pair I actually came home with until the #TanaLovesShoes Twitter Party on November 17, 2015 at 8pm EST/5pm PST. To RSVP simply follow this link. You can win a $500 VISA gift card (think of all the shoes you could buy?) or one of several $50 VISA gift cards and of course my BIG shoe reveal!
Check out the Tana "Weather The Winter" contest by entering here where you can enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 Bi-weekly Prizes of $500 and the Grand Prize of $2000!
And last but not least, be sure to show us your own fabulous soccer mom style by tagging what show love means to you on Instagram with the hashtag #TanaLovesShoes and enter to win weekly Tana Shoe Product prizes as well. Include Tana shoe products in your photo submission for additional chances to win!


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Former United States Securities and Exchange Commission attorney Willie Briscoe and the securities litigation firm of Powers Taylor LLP are investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of Jos. A Bank Clothiers Inc. ("Jos. A Bank") (NasdaqGS: JOSB) related to the acquisition by The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. for shareholders. Under the terms of the definitive agreement valued at approximately $1.8 billion, consideration will consist of $65.00 per share in cash. If you are an affected investor, and you want to learn more about the lawsuit or join the action, contact Willie Briscoe at The Briscoe Law Firm, PLLC, (214) 239-4568, or via email at email@example.com, or Patrick Powers at Powers Taylor LLP, toll free (877) 728-9607, via e-mail at email@example.com. There is no cost or fee to you. The Jos. A Bank investigation centers on whether Jos. A Bank's shareholders are receiving adequate compensation for their shares in the proposed deal, whether the transaction undervalues Jos. A Bank's stock, and whether Jos. A Bank's board attempted to obtain the highest share price for all shareholders prior to agreeing to the deal. The Briscoe Law Firm, PLLC is a full service business litigation and shareholder rights advocacy firm with more than 20 years of experience in complex litigation and transactional matters. Powers Taylor LLP is a boutique litigation law firm that handles a variety of complex business litigation matters, including claims of investor and stockholder fraud, shareholder oppression, shareholder derivative suits, and security class actions.
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A Seattle Woman's Perspective on Car Buying
Category: Feature. Written by Cara Capuano
Here's the truth: Women are better shoppers than men.
Perhaps the "shopping gene" is carried on the X chromosome. We have two "X's"; thereby we are twice as efficient and productive. Or perhaps it is an environmental part of our upbringing. At an early age, wise mothers pass along two key concepts to their daughters:
1. You get what you pay for 2.Never pay full price
With the New Year come new resolutions. Perhaps one of yours is to add a new car to your life. If so, I have a tip: Bring your better half to the shopping process!
A sales manager at a Seattle area Honda dealership, who didnt want to be identified, told me how he has stressed to his staff that major buying decisions used to be controlled by men, women are now taking a more active, if not equal, role. Maybe it's a reflection of society as whole, but many women are commanding higher incomes than their spouses. and thus have a bigger role in major purchases. Sales people are focusing both people equally, regardless of which person is seeking the new ride. I've been told the number#1 tip in reading a female customer is by being attentive to nonverbal cues like eye contact and body language.
"Once I see a woman cross her arms, I know the sale is lost," explains the local Honda sales manager.
Recently on vacation from the Seattle drizzle, I had a chance to soak in Southern California sun while helping a friend buy a car. In the process I saw some sweet rides, including a replica of the Bumblebee Camaro from Transformers II, the new Audi R9 being used in the Ironman sequel. While "shopping" (read: "dreaming"), I had several other conversations with sales managers, at a variety of dealerships, and was pleased to have several hypotheses confirmed regarding the differences between the way men and women shop for vehicles. They include, in no particular order:
Women prioritize a car that fits their lifestyles.
- Are there enough seats to meet passenger requirements?
- The more "hands-free" the better. Mothers in particular love the convenience of power-operated doors/lift gates, folding seats and seat/pedal adjustments. Remote starters for engines, heaters and air conditioning are highly coveted and could make lovely last-minute holiday gifts.
- Safety first! Women typically ask more safety-related questions than men.
Women are often more cautious on what they spend than a man. This is not a blanket statement and clearly does not apply to items like cosmetics and shoes, but in my observations and experience when it comes to cars, practicality reigns supreme for ladies.
- Women will ask important questions about key elements to budgetary savings like gas mileage and interest rates on loans or leases.
Men seek "the look." According to an eastside GMC/Pontiac sales manager, men are "appearance driven, hands down."
- Electronic gadgets like navigation systems and touch screen-based radio/temperature controls hold definite appeal but even more alluring are exterior add-ons like upgraded tires, trim and grills.
- Power is also a critical factor for the male buyer – finding the right combination of acceleration and speed without sacrificing gas mileage.
Motivation for bringing a member of the opposite sex on the shopping excursion can be starkly different (shocker, I know).
A Seattle area Toyota salesperson told me, "women tend to bring men (as shopping partners) to get more respect" on the sales floor. And "9 out of ten times a man brings a woman to shop for vehicles to show her what a great business person he is."
He also added, "I've been married thirty years and have learned that you never buy what the wife doesn't want," he says. "I wouldn't even buy a pair of pants she didn't like."
Now those are words one can live by.
Cara Capuano has worked in television, mainly in sports, for over a decade, spending the last four years covering the Northwest Sports Scene for Fox Sports NW and before that on ESPN News. A dedicated storyteller, from time to time she'll be lending some "female perspective" to SeattleAuto.net.


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She looked like a wreck, walked with a limp and might of been on something but could that of been her social media viral hit? Her mentions were pretty non-existent for the past six months and now she, her agent and PR agency have an opportunity to capitalize. I can definitely help her – call me maybe?
She has got to start doing the following:
- Create a robust, authentic, social content strategy that she is deeply involved
- Seed content to her influential fans, trade publications and fellow actors
- Team up with Jonathan Lipnicki for a Jerry McGuire reunion
- Produce an online series / reality series that focuses on the behind-the-scenes of the Academy Awards
Those are just some ideas but love to hear your comments below. BTW, the chart was pulled from Lithium social media monitoring – great tool to have when managing communities, search for your brand mentions across all web/social properties, and tracking trending topics such as the Oscars.
Randy – randy.ksar at gmail dot com – 408-409-9033


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Fabulous Friday - Louis Vuitton Resort 2011
20 comments:
Great pics. I love this line.ReplyDelete
Great pictures. Love the last one!ReplyDelete
Stunning collection- so feminine!ReplyDelete
what great styling in this collection!ReplyDelete
Love this collection! So much better than their fall collectionReplyDelete
This collection of photos are amazing in it's well of inspiration. Just loving the 60's vibe and the Palm Springs location fits it perfectly.ReplyDelete
This is the epitome of chic!ReplyDelete
do you have a fav!? i loved the car w/the airstream in tow...mainly because of that skirt :)ReplyDelete
LV's designs never fail to please.
Gorgeous photos!ReplyDelete
Wow i love this shoot. the first picture is amazing.ReplyDelete
this is definitely fabulous for friday! love!ReplyDelete
The last picture is so beautiful. I want to be her. That skirt is amazing.ReplyDelete
Good choose!! the photos are wonderful!! That blue dress just killed me!!! (I have a crush on that kind of dresses)ReplyDelete
Wow, you got taste girl!ReplyDelete
Love these images. so classic.ReplyDelete
I love Louis Vuitton...literally all my bags and wallets haha!ReplyDelete
I think their ad campaigns have been getting better and better- not to mention their 5th ave store windows.
I absolutely love the clothes of LV and the styling more than the bags now. how lovely..ReplyDelete
Incredible images! Great post!ReplyDelete
This is BEYOND AMAZING!!! I LOVE each and every picture!ReplyDelete
fabulous indeed! I'll take one of everything ;)ReplyDelete


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- Home
- Academic Programs
- Courses
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- Visiting Writers
- The Pearl Andelson Sherry Memorial Poetry Reading and Lecture
- Dedmon Writer-in-Residence
- Kestnbaum Writer-in-Residence
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- Contact
Michael Henry Heim (2008)
Michael Henry Heim teaches Russian and Central European literature in the Departments of Slavic Languages and Literatures and Comparative Literature at UCLA. He translates from the Russian, Czech, Serbo-Croatian, Hungarian, German, and French. His translations include Chekhov's plays and a collection of Chekhov's letters, contemporary Russian novelists (Vassily Aksyonov, Felix Roziner, Sasha Sokolov), three novels and a play by Milan Kundera, two novels and a collection of stories by Bohumil Hrabal, two novels by Danilo Kis, contemporary Hungarian novelists (Istvan Örkeny, Peter Esterhazy, György Konrad), a children's novel by Hans-Magnus Enzensberger, and Günter Grass's My Century. His most recent work is a translation of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice.


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XPLANE founder and CEO Dave Gray/
At the LIFT'07 conference I had the great pleasure to talk to XPLANE founder and CEO Dave Gray. He has built a wonderful company over the years and he follows the same mantra as we do at Arvetica: visual language can help communicate complex issues such as, for example, business strategy or change management.
I very much admire Dave for being able to write a blog, educate interested people on visualization (here, here and here) and still stay an artist... I very much look forward to doing some joint work with Dave and his company.


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Just Sold $2,390,000 - Canalfront, Open Waterfront
VICTORIAN KEY WEST ELEGANCE IN ISLAMORADA! Meticulously executed blend of both indoor-outdoor appointments provide the ultimate island sanctuary! Custom showcase 3B/4B, Plantation Key, unique point lot where canal meets bay so water views & protected deep-water dockage. Vaulted 2-story ceilings w/gallery, Hemingway-esque dark wood floors, French doors to loggias, infinity edge pool & so much more!
Truly a masterpiece of picturesque architecture & quality construction describe this custom home built to withstand 175mph wind velocity, concrete construction & siding, Anderson impact windows & doors, open floor plan designed to capture water views through walls of French doors so the rooms meld with the terraces. Rich, chocolate-brown Epay hardwood flooring accented by clear maple ceilings, doors & crown molding. Gourmet kitchen offers emerald green granite countertop & backsplash, maple wood cabinetry, Subzero refrigerator & freezer systems, wine cooler, 2 dishwashers, Viking 6 burner gas stove w/vented hood, rolling center island w/5 chairs. Living area boasts 2-story walls for owner's art gallery, complete home sound system w/4D TV technology. Master suite w/tin tile replica ceiling, French doors to pool patio, master bath w/double sink vanities, glass enclosed rain shower, 8 ft pocket doors, private water closet, walk-in closet w/custom shelving. Tamarind wood stair baluster & hand rails leads guests to 2 spacious upper level guest bedroom suites complete w/media room & sound system, art studio & staircase to widow's walk for panoramic sunset views. Pavilion-like roof shelters an outdoor living area complete w/infinity edge heated pool, cascading waterfall, elevated hot tub, swim jet plus hand cut stone encircling pool & dock area. Exterior Features: Gated w/privacy walls & fencing, double wide Chicago brick paved driveway & walkways, 50+ foot dock & seawall w/20,000lb boat lift, separate cut-in boat slip & lift, lush tropical foliage, butterfly garden, exterior lighted paths, central vacuum system, alarm system, whole house generator plus extra deep covered front porches to make lazy afternoons a must! Please view document tab for appointment list. SOLD FOR $2,150,000


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Harvest Moon #5
sold out
Harvest Moon #5
Size - 6.5
This ring is all handmade with sterling silver and set with a beautiful high grade southwest turquoise cabochon. Its made to last a lifetime and hopes to become the perfect heirloom piece that can be passed down from generation to generation.
Add To Cart


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Subscribe To Kelly Osbourne Just Slammed Fashion Police's Giuliana Rancic Yet Again Updates
I've already subscribed
To say that Kelly Osbourne is outspoken is to say that the ocean is wet, and the celeb will likely never change things up in the future. Her latest abrasive comments are once more directed at her former Fashion Police co-host Giuliana Rancic, whose own off-color comments were the impetus for the E! series' current in-flux state. It seems like Osbourne's grudge shows no sign of being extinguished.
If you're wondering just how Osbourne feels about Rancic, look no further.
I will never admit to like Giuliana because I don't. I don't think she's a good person and I think she's a liar.
Shots fired and bouncing all over the room! If anyone thought this feud might get swept under the rug at some point, they obviously didn't consider that the rug might be on fire when that happened. Something tells me we won't see these women teaming up for a three-legged race anytime soon.
The rift between Osbourne and Rancic became extremely public after the Fashion Police Oscar special, during which Rancic said that actress Zendaya's hair probably smelled like weed, which garnered negative reactions from all over the place. The aftermath caused Osbourne to quit the show, leaving a trail of insults behind her. After that, Fashion Police took another left turn when Kathy Griffin also announced she was leaving the show, citing creative differences with those involved.
To make it extremely clear just where Osbourne's problems with Fashion Police start and end, here's what she had to say when TheWrap asked if she'd ever think about going back to the show.
If certain people weren't there.
I'm guessing she's not talking about the hair stylists. So now I guess the ball would be in E!'s court as far as which of these hosts they would rather stick with for the future, but it's definitely Rancic for now. Fashion Police is currently going through a bit of retooling, with the focus shifting away from ripping celebrities apart and returning to a more lighthearted approach to mocking fashion choices in Hollywood. When the show returns, Rancic and celebrity stylist Brad Goreski will be joined by Melissa Rivers, who hopes to fill the void that was left after her mother Joan Rivers died. For what it's worth, Osbourne had only the nicest of things to say about Goreski and Rivers.
Let's not forget that Osbourne herself has been on the wrong end of an unfortunately pointed comment recently, as her anti-Trump comments on The View ended up getting the episode yanked from streaming sites. Let us know which host you'd prefer below.
Who Would You Rather As Host Of Fashion Police?


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|Clicking on the
image will reveal
a temperature of
31oC at 2.20p.m.
on Christmas Eve
- in the shade
A chronicle of our family's transition to an off-grid, more self-sufficient and eco-friendlier lifestyle, sharing, wherever possible, helpful links and ideas, in order to ease anyone else's journey along this path
Saturday, 27 December 2014
In the heat of the moment
16 comments:
- Sue said...
I agree--it wouldn't seem like Christmas to me without snow. We barely had a covering this year--it's rained and rained and it sure is dismal....but there's that teensy bit of snow hanging on so I'm ok.
Google Christmas scenes and you'll see---everything points to a snowy Christmas.
Happy Holidays, Dani
- 27 December 2014 at 16:57
- Dani said...
Sue - Exactly - snow = Christmas :)
Happy days to you too, Sue :)
- 27 December 2014 at 17:40
- Frugal in Derbyshire said...
No snow on Christmas Day But quite a lot fell yesterday (boxing day)
The chickens aren't too keen on the snow and some visiting has has to be put off because of the roads, but the fire is burning brightly and we have lots of Christmas goodies still to eat. I am also sitting here with my knees covered in a quilt made for me by my granddaughter as a Christmas present (Bragging - but how good is that?!)
- 27 December 2014 at 18:58
- 1st Man said...
We never (well, rarely) get snow and our temps vary wildly. Some Christmases it's 80F and some it's freezing. That definitely makes it a hit or miss. ;-)
- 28 December 2014 at 04:33
- Marlin Andrus said...
Dani, please tell me what 6d's and a tickey are. I've never heard those terms.
- 28 December 2014 at 04:43
- Dani said...
Gill - Oh, I can just picture the scene you describe... How wonderful that your granddaughter is so creative - it's a rare thing with today's young'uns.
- 28 December 2014 at 16:06
- Dani said...
1st Man - Sounds like you sometimes have the same temps as us - too bloody hot for Christmas ;)
- 28 December 2014 at 16:07
- Dani said...
Marlin - 6d is sixpence (UK coin) and a tickey was 2 1/2 South African cents. I know the tickey is no longer in production (it stopped being minted in the early 1960's) but I'm not sure if the sixpence is still around.
- 28 December 2014 at 16:09
- Harry Flashman said...
Dani, you and my Australian friends celebrating Christmas in the heat seems strange, even though I understand the reason for it. I saw a news clip with Australians swimming at the beach, wearing Santa hats!
- 28 December 2014 at 18:02
- Frugal in Derbyshire said...
Sixpence went out with decimalisation. (1970s) The smallest silver coin now is a 5 pence piece, but of course no one puts such things in puddings now because they are considered a choking hazard. Shame!!!
- 28 December 2014 at 23:56
- DFW said...
We had a cool clear Christmas night this year. Not always in our neck of the woods. For instance, today was close to 80. January is usually our cold month.
- 29 December 2014 at 00:58
- Dani said...
Harry - Trust me - it is strange LOL
- 29 December 2014 at 10:12
- Dani said...
Dallas - It's weird, isn't it! Personally, I prefer a COLD Christmas ;)
- 29 December 2014 at 10:13
- Leigh said...
Even though I live in the northern hemisphere, we've had less white Christmases than snowy ones. When I lived in Houston Christmas could be downright hot! I have to say I really like a cold Christmas too. Just seems to make the season. :)
- 31 December 2014 at 04:16
- Dani said...
Leigh - It does indeed. Hot, dry, water-starved plants, trees and crunchy grass does not an ideal Chirstmas make LOL
- 31 December 2014 at 17:42
- Dani said...
Thanks FiD. Yeah - memories not being made just so the unobservant can be safe. Great pity... (Surely parents would / could / should "search" the pudding of little 'uns, before they give them the bowl?)
- 31 December 2014 at 17:44


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Video Game Journalism Finally Duped Me: Think for Yourself/
During a recent late night Dice Masters session with my good buddy, David, I lamented over how several of my most trusted sources for video game reviews had let me down. I know...shocker, right? But what if I told you that their misleading reviews were enough for me to avoid Resident Evil 6 entirely due to speculation regarding the oversexualization/exploitation of the female protagonists?
Where some may blow video games off as inconsequential, they are a big part of my livelihood. Missing the chance to play an amazing game when I actually have the means to play it is akin to claiming that you're a cinema buff and having never once watched Night of the Living Dead.
In essence, much like the poor lout whose eyeballs have never been graced with the brilliance of George Romero, I had no idea what I was missing. Where David showed me a highly polished action-shooter with multiple playable characters and branching paths, other people were complaining about the apparent overt sexuality presented in some of the unlockable (and totally optional) costumes available for the female characters.
In my eyes, these costumes are not offensive at all, let alone enough to warrant the entire shunning of a game that I might actually enjoy. And as for the allegations of exploitation? After watching a couple of hours of gameplay, I have reached the conclusion that the girls kick just as much ass as the boys and are able to more than hold their own in combat.
Despite the Internet's best efforts to dredge up controversy (any controversy) after its release, Resident Evil 6 still has its diehard fans. Since my discussion with David, I've since grown wiser, promised to experience something myself before reaching a final decision, and to help you, the excellent reader, learn how to think for yourself.
Reviews are Inherently Subjective
After the online implosion that was [redacted], video game journalism has come under fire as being "less than truthful". Granted, some practices such as review embargos actively try to invoke false positive reviews which could fool those who don't know better. But guess what? They've always been subjective.
Much like movie reviews, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and since we all interpret "beauty" differently, the whole review industry itself is and always will be inherently subjective, and there's nothing that we can do about it. There was even that time when I avoided watching Transylvania 6-5000 simply because Leonard Maltin extravagantly stated that it "stinks". Guess what, Maltin? Transylvania 6-5000 rules! Screw your opinion!
Throw in the fact that the Internet has made it totally possible to flood a dentist's Yelp page with negative reviews because he had the gall to publicly post a picture of a dead lion, and it makes the whole "review industry" even more shaky. So how do we know when it's alright to consume something? Simple. Find an online or IRL community that shares your interests and have yourself some organic exchanges. Who knew?
For example, I'm your guy if you're into cheesy B-movies and the games that contain similar tropes (Resident Evil 2, anyone?), but you'd be better off talking to someone else if you were looking for a college-level debate regarding the legalities of Fried Green Tomatoes.
If you were a hardcore JRPG fan, would you seek an educated opinion of Dragon Warrior VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past from someone who exclusively plays Call of Duty? Know your audience, and you shall know thyself! Speaking of which...
Share with Those That Matter
The whole point of the Internet is to be able to share information faster than what was previously available. Decades ago, where carrier pigeons once helped win wars, vital decisions are now made on Wall Street that are a mere notification away. The same applies to video games.
Once you know who you share interests with (much like in real life), you can start exchanging information and having in-depth conversations about your favorite things faster than you could imagine!
Whenever I stumble across a fellow nerd with an affinity for old school video games, I attempt to delve further and determine what "subset" they belong to. Do they tend to play a lot of action titles, or are they more into RPGs? Or are they all about survival horror or mildly erotic puzzlers like Catherine? Once a unity has been created, genuine recommendations can then be made that challenge your perception and expand your horizons.
As a member of several online communities, I've noticed that the most engaging ones follow a set of guidelines that can effectively be utilized in real life, as well. In short, what these rules state is that once the ethos of the community are set, positive organic interaction is possible as long as people follow the established guidelines of interaction.
Imagine nerding out with someone else who shares your love of the Clock Tower series and being informed of the existence of the awesome and obscure Haunting Ground? Perhaps a discussion on how to achieve all 13 endings in Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within and what they entail?
Even better, it can all happen faster now, thanks to the Internet. It is up to the moderators to make the community awesome by setting and maintaining the tone.
Stay Subjective
Say what? Isn't the point of journalism to be as objective as possible? Sadly, no. Even the American Press Institute states that the point of journalism is to "provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives". Nowhere in that rambling sentence does it say that the aim of journalism is be objective.
For example, FOX News has been accused of possessing a conservative lean and of course refuting it, but not so for their other programs. Contrastly, MSNBC seems to have a left-wing bias in their reporting and have been publicly called out for it, as well. As you can clearly see, biased reporting is not merely relegated to the video game industry, but can be experienced every time you turn on your TV, radio or smartphone.
Hey, we're only human. We tend to gravitate towards the communities that share our views the best, and there's nothing wrong with that. Who are you more likely to change your opinion for? Someone who randomly flames you online, or someone who's opinion you value?
Much for the same reason that I avoid Kotaku like the plague, some platforms and its users are just not for us. We're all adults here, and when we post a review online for something we love in a public forum, we're bound to have our dissenters.
However, we're all entitled to our opinion which is very real to us, subjective as it may be. So what if Gamespot said that one of your favorite games is "Mediocre"; you love it, and you're not alone.
And hey, if you happen to change someone's mind while sharing that love, kudos! One thing's for sure: I'll never be fooled by the Internet or media again, and will continue to covet the opinions of those who I respect the most.
For the sake of your sanity, I suggest you do the same, and nerd out the best way that you know how!


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Last year when I visited my sister in upstate New York- (we hadn't seen eachother for about 30 years) it immediately felt like coming home. Not just the people in the house but the house itself seemed to welcome me, like an old time friend. It was as if the house morphed into a 'living' warm, material thing. It embraced me with its friendliness so it started to inspire me as a poet with the following poems- hope they can project some of the joy I felt to who ever is reading them!
coming home to a home that
welcomes you with a hug
where love is the rule and
inner warmth the side effect
where you're surrounded by
a treasury of books and
artifacts are the keepers of
the African heritage in pride
and the courage of the people
of the First Nations is honored
where the memories of 2Pac
and Malcolm and Martin Luther
are cherished and so many more
where they serve you soul food
cooked with creative genius
where lifestyle means generosity
respect and sharing
where the angels smile at you
and the rhythm of life
has the beat of a jazz tune
coming home that way to the home
of my chosen sister is like a precious
diamond that will never loose its shine
and in a house like that a common object as simple as a kitchen table becomes inspiring!
The Kitchen Table
there she is in a corner
of the warm open kitchen
the nerve center of the house
always clean never cleared
receiving on its surface all
the incoming and outgoing
communication of the people
surrounding her, using her
standing by her, sitting close
to her after they conquered
their own little space to put
a plate on top of her, a glass
a cup to enjoy breakfast or
supper with family or a friend
we became mates, the table and I
while reading the morning news
sipping my cup of green tea
the dog's head resting in my lap
the perfect place to start a new day!


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Happy Friday, friends! I'm sitting at my gate, getting ready to board a plane to Orlando for the Gospel Coalition Conference. But before this whirlwind of a day takes off, I'm excited to introduce you to a beautiful, talented friend of mine, Annamarie Akins. This wedding photographer is one of my favorite people to follow along with. Not only do I love her stunning photos, but I really enjoy her sweet, kind heart. She's sincere, friendly, and easy to get to know. It's no wonder she's becoming more and more successful in her field! I think you'll really enjoy this Coffee Date today - it did my heart good already. All, meet Annamarie!
What's in your coffee cup this morning?
I actually go to bed each night excited that I get to wake up and drink coffee... you could say I'm addicted! Ryan makes a big part of dark roast coffee in the morning before he leaves for work around 6 AM and always leaves enough for me to have a cup or two! I always enjoy it with coconut milk in one of my favorite anthro mugs. On my wish list though, is one of those Nespresso machines... Cappuccinos are my absolute favorite so I think it would be a fun investment!
Give us a glimpse into a "day in the life" of Annamarie.
Ohh this is tricky because I feel like my days are never the same... and I love that about what I do! I like routine in a lot of things, but I think TOO much structure can make life feel monotonous. My favorite days are the ones where I get up in time to have breakfast with Ryan and then do something non-business related before I start working like take Lexie on a walk and spend time in prayer! Then I normally head up to my little office and take care of things on the back end of my business, prep for a shoot or meet a new client, or get editing done with our cockapoo puppy, Lexie, curled up in my lap depending on the day! And I have to take regular breaks or else I get easily distracted... The Pomodoro Method has been my saving grace! Sometimes I get to have work days with one of my best friends who is also a photographer... that makes working from home much less lonely!
And if we're talking "ideal" day in the life of Annamarie, it's waking up in a fun place for a shoot! This week I shot an Anniversary Celebration Session in NYC and it reminded me once again why I'm passionate about what I do... Getting to celebrate love and marriage with the couples I photograph in new and inspiring places is such a dream come true!
If you could travel anywhere to shoot a wedding, where would it be and why?
Italy! The south of France! Northern California! New York City! Jamaica! Is it really possible to pick just one? There are so many beautiful places! But honestly, I'm currently really loving the Georgia coast... Ryan's grandparents own a condo on St. Simon Island and we visited for the first time in March and are actually heading there again this weekend for our anniversary! Needless to say I fell head over heels in love with that place! The mossy oak trees...the gorgeous architecture...the southern hospitality...sigh... So somewhere along the Georgia coast around Savannah or the Golden Isles would be a dream!
I've also been learning to really love and appreciate weddings that are close to home... one of my favorite places to shoot is Charlottesville because it's such a gorgeous area and only about an hour from home! That means more weekend time to spend with Ryan and Lexie :). I'm a travel loving homebody... meaning that traveling and visiting new places brings me so much joy, but sometimes there's nothing better than being curled up on the couch with my little family watching a movie or reading a book!
Having your own business can be busy and stressful. How do you simplify?
This is a toughie but I think it's all about focus. I really believe that if you put your main focus on loving people and serving your clients as best you can then everything else will fall into place. It's easy to look at a mile long to-do list as a small business owner and feel overwhelmed. But if you choose to focus on doing the things that are going to make people feel most loved and taken care of then it's easier to discern what you should do first and that every little thing on there isn't really even important. There's a quote that goes something like "The secret to doing it all is to not actually do it all." I have to remind myself daily of what matters most so that I donn't get caught up in thinking that life is found in "more"...more stuff, more accomplishments, more shoots..."more" clouds our vision and weighs us down... Learning to say "no" to things changed my life! I truly believe it's better to do "less" really well because it allows you to enjoy it and gives you time to appreciate it!
You recently redesigned your website and your branding (and it is absolutely gorgeous!) What spurred you to change things up and how important is design to your business?
Thank you so much, Lauren! I think design is so important! To me, your mission and your brand go hand in hand. At my core, I love what I do because I love people and really believe in marriage and the power of capturing a couples love story! So, I wanted a brand that would reflect that and reach couples who love timeless, romantic, and refined style. Ohh don't you love that word, refined? There's something about it that goes deeper than what you see on the surface. Making the Robert Browning poem, "The best is yet to be..." a foundational element of the new brand and design was important to me because I knew I wanted to take my business in the direction of making Anniversary Celebration Sessions a focal point and it's exciting to see that playing out! As much as I love weddings, I'm even more passionate about the marriages that begin on a wedding day! For me to be the photographer I wanted to be, I wouldn't fit into the mold of my old website. I wanted a website that would share a powerful brand and story in an understated and sophisticated way! And my designer and friend, Krista, did such an incredible job of bringing it to life!
What's something you've been loving lately?
Veil shots. When a bride has a beautiful long veil on her wedding day I do an internal happy dance. The way a veil catches the light is so ethereal and I think they make portait time more dynamic! This might sound sill to any non-photogs reading this, but ohhh do I love a good veil!
And on another note, lately I've just been loving people and am so thankful for the ones that God has placed in my life... I've been overwhelmed by the joy that comes from really investing in relationships and caring about people for who they are at their core despite what they do for you in return... from the couples I work with, to the people in my small group, to other small business owners and wedding industry professionals... I think when you look at life with that perspective that loving people matters more than anything else, the race to do more or get ahead or feel defeated by the hard things fades... loving people is done best in the times when you choose to live slower and create the necessary margins in life to be giving of your time. One of my favorite authors, Ann Voskamp, writes "Your best necklace is always the arms of someone you love laced around your neck, and your greatest jewels are not what you buy but the relationships you spend your life on...".
And just for fun, please share s story or two about sweet Lexie :)
It's so crazy to think back on times before Lexie the Cockapoo... she adds so much joy to my life! I love having her as a snuggle buddy and companion during the day when I'm working from home alone... We are some of those crazy people who personify their pet and say what we think she's thinking for her... she just has so much personality! Her favorite thing to do right now is run to the mail slot as the postman is sticking the mail through and grab it from his hand... then she growls and shakes it around like she is trying to make sure it's not alive. She hasn't ripped up anything too important besides a new J. Crew catalogue last week... We should probably discourage her from doing this before she rips up anything that's actually important!