text:
Events such as GovHack and Code for America have given open data a recent boost in popularity, but the technology behind data integration often goes ignored. Within Brisbane's robust meetup community is the solution to this divide, the relatively-small Data Warehousing Brisbane run ...Read More »
Hacking beyond GovHack
As this year's record-breaking GovHack finally winds down, organisers are looking to the event's future. With a leap from two cities to 11, over 1300 participants and extraordinary media coverage, it makes sense that GovHack is looking to capitalise on ...Read More »
Update: Bardon Bitcoin ATM ready to go
Bardon cafe Kobblers has successfully installed one of the country's first Bitcoin ATM's after months of waiting. The Lamassu ATM arrived early in July and was installed later in the month after software developer Paul O'Keeffe conducted repairs. The installation comes ...Read More »
GovHack tests Australia's access to open data like never before
Nationwide hackathon GovHack saw over 1,200 participants repurpose government data last weekend, pushing the boundaries of both the event and the accessibility of open data. Over 200 teams competed across 11 Australian satellite locations, with 109 participants creating seventeen submissions in ...Read More »
Bitcoin ATM planned for Bardon
Bardon cafe Kobblers is preparing to host one of the country's first Bitcoin ATMs.Read More »
Three reasons Creative3 rocks
The 2013 edition of the Creative3 Forum lived up to the high expectations that it has set for itself in previous years. It is, without a doubt, one of the premier events in Queensland for entrepreneurs and creatives. Anna Rooke ...Read More »
The Queensland Government Open Data Mixer
Rufus Pollock's keynote was the highlight of the weekend's Open Data Mixer event. Pollock gave an entertaining and inspiring talk about open knowledge. The key take away messages were that open data is a platform, not a commodity, and that ...Read More »
Javascript enlightenment at CampJS
Not long ago I was pretty jaded about life as a software developer, and my colleagues could often hear me proclaiming at lunch (in between mouthfuls of leftovers from last night's dinner), "A commune! We need a coding commune!". A ...Read More »
API Engine intrigues developers
Eleven months ago, a beer and a handshake kickstarted one of Brisbane's most intriguing startups, API Engine. Greg Davis, former engineering director of a Brisbane-based software company, was building a fairly hefty API that was a chore to document. His ...Read More »
Jeppesen API could be the bee's knees for public transport data
Ask a random app developer what kinds of open government data are most valuable and useful, and public transit data usually figures high on their list. Journey planners and bus stop alarm applications are common on the iTunes App Store ...Read More »


text:
IMAGE's Pride Month Variants Net $85k For HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
Image Comics' June Pride Month-themed variants garnered $85,305.67, which is being donated to Human Rights Campaign.
"We are so thankful for the opportunity to support the LGBTQ community during Pride Month this year by partnering once again with the Human Rights Campaign," said Image's Publisher, Eric Stephenson. "It's never been a secret that Image Comics is supportive of creative freedom, but it's important that we also make it clear that we stand for inclusivity, diversity, and equality, now more than ever. We hope these variants will serve as a positive display of that ongoing commitment."
The eleven variants were Bitch Planet: Triple Feature #1 by Valente De Landro, The Walking Dead #168 by Sina Grace & Tamra Bonvillain, The Divided States of Hysteria #2 by Howard Chaykin, Rose #3 by Ig Guara, Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 by Jim Mahfood, Redneck #3 by Ed Luce, Crosswind #1 by Cat Staggs, The Old Guard #5 by Leandro Fernandez, Black Magick #6 by Nicola Scott, Deadly Class #29 by Wes Craig, and Shutter #29 by Leila del Duca.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Has anyone tried this ? Have been using opk but only got one positive reading to date , we are on month 5 now ttc and spoke with my mum about this tonight when she suggested taking my temp every morning , and charting the spikes etc , IV tried googling and maybe my brain is just muddled from the frustration or exhaustion of why im not ovulating etc but I'm only getting American websites and they contradict themselves so has anyone and easy way of explaining it ..
Lilypad16 they tel if your ovulating
What do the Day 21 bloods tell you?
All in, I've done about 2yrs of temping orally. I used fertility friend and did their charting course' early on. They have a ton of resources but explain it really well and overall looking at your fertility signs, which ones matter most etc. really excellent resource. Just to say temping is not for everyone and if you find it stressful then I'm not sure I'd continue. I actually liked it so worked well for me but at this stage of having 2 small kids and not getting reliable sleep it's not going to be accurate. You have to take temp on waking after few hours 5+ is best) sleep without moving apart from putting in thermometer so keep it close.I liked it so much as I got great reading of my cycle, it told so much and other signs meant more. I used opks to get heads up for ovulation but then knew by temps whether I O'd or not. Sometimes hormones surge without ovulating so was great to know for sure. I have long cycles so was very very beneficial and cycles went wonky after losses.I'm on medicated cycle now so not really needed.If getting day 21 bloods done I'd wait until 7dpo as not accurate otherwise, it's looking for progesterone rise that peaks at 7dpo...day 21 on a 28 day cycle where ovulation takes place day 14...this textbook cycle is not v common!
Could never get a positive with opks. Tried charting and learnt so much about my body!. Taking control of your fertility by Toni weschler is a great book and think there is also a website. I did temp and cervical mucus. It takes a couple of months to really get it but after that its grand.
Hi lauraly my therm didn't arrive so started day6 I tink. And I tested orally. It was pretty accurate once I got in on it and knew what was right
Hi baby bean , so got my thermometer this week and I'm just wondering did you track vaginally or orally ? It gives a whole list from under arm to rectal which to be honest I'm not in to , but I'm wondering what's best to go for , also did you track during the days you had your period ?
Hi lauraly, I was temping a few months ago, by temps it will show you are ovulating as once you ovulate your temps will increase and stay up for at least the next 3 temps. Fertility friend is a good app for it. I would however suggest gettin you day21 bloods done. I went to docs explained I had temp done but doc said they don't really go by that and just complete day21 bloods instead. I had mine done and my mind is completely at rest now and know I am fine in the ovulating department
www.RollerCoaster.ie - For the Ups & Downs of Pregnancy & Parenting
Copyright ©2000 - 2019 Rollercoaster.ie.
All content is copyright Rollercoaster.ie.
Reproduction of any part of the content in any form is prohibited.


text:
Event - Bridgend Mash Up 2014
Location - Bridgend Town Centre
Date - 17 May 2014
Further Details - www.thebridgendmash.com
The Mash Up essentially mixes (or "mashes") traditional athletics
in the streets with contemporary urban street culture. There
are some things that you would expect in a town centre (such as
skateboarding, parkour, street dance and even BMX) and there are
other things that you would not - pole vaulting, high jump
competitions, street sprinting.
'The Mash' is a collision between the contemporary and the
traditional, between watching and doing. It's urban, it's sporty
and different.
Take a look at what happened in previous a Mash Up
Event: Jazz on the
Location: Porthcawl
Date: 11-13 April 2014
Brecon Jazz Festival is probably the best known Jazz Festival in
Wales but did you know that the seaside town of Porthcawl has a
festival of it's own, and it's coming up next month.
The Porthcawl Jazz Festival takes place from 11-13 April and
features some well known names from the world of jazz including the
Big Chris Barber Band, Davide Logiri and digby Fairweather
It all kicks off on the Friday night with a performance from the
Rhondda Symphony Pops Orchestra at the town's Grand Pavilion.
Numerous events will take place at a variety of locations
throughout the weekend as well as the headline acts at the Pavilion
every evening.
Where better to be than by the seaside relaxing and enjoying some
top quality Jazz.
Here it is. The new Visit Wales TV advert.
Asking "Have you Packed for Wales", the advert features Caernarfon
Castle, the new Mountain Biking centre near Merthyr Tydfil and the
Wales Coast Path amongst other places.
The full advert and campaign will be launched this Saturday - St
David's Day.
In the meantime, take a look at the advert and let us know what
you think.
Take a look at this great video from our friends at www.bridgendbites.com
As part of their Perfect Day campaign, they've put together a
little compilation of all the things you can get up to in Bridgend,
Porthcawl and the surrounding area.
Whether it's playing a round on the famous fairways of Royal
Porthcawl, catching a wave or two at Rest Bay, a genteel afternoon
tea , a walk through some of the biggest sand dunes in Europe or a
bit of retail therapy, there's plenty of options.
Take a look at the rest of the Perfect Day videos here
Let us know what makes your Perfect Day.
Event - Interceltic Festival
Location - Porthcawl
Date - 7 - 9 March 2014
It's almost that time of year again when the seaside
resort of Porthcawl reverberates to the sound of some great Celtic
music. It's time for the annual Porthcawl Interceltic
Singers, dancers and musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall,
Brittany, the Isle of Man and of course Wales descend on the town's
Grand Pavilion for three days of concerts, performances and
Although the pavilion is the base for the weekend's festivities,
the whole town gets into the Celtic spirit with events happening
throughout the resort.
Event - Tour of Britain
Location - Caerphilly
Date - 19 September 2013
With the Tour de France underway it seems that now is the perfect
time to look ahead to the Tour of Britain.
The cycle race, which was re-launched in 2004, sees some of the
top teams from around the globe battle it out on the roads around
And for the first time this year, Wales is home to two
stages. The first day in Wales sees the riders tackle the
stunning scenery of Snowdonia with the gruelling climb up to Pen y
Pass before the decent to the finish in Llanberis.
The second Welsh stage on 19 September is now one of the most
popular stages of the race.
Starting in Machynlleth, the riders race through the heart of
Wales and over the Brecon Beacons and on to the now legendary climb
of Caerphilly Mountain, which the riders have to tackle
The finish line is in the shadows of the magnificent Caerphilly Castle and this
year's riders will try and emulate then World Champion, Thor
Hushovd of Norway who won here in 2011 and 2012's winner Leopold
Who will follow in the footsteps of last year's Tour of Britain
winner, Jonathan Tiernan Locke, and stake their claim for the
leader's Gold jersey?
Take a look at this video of Merthyr Tydfil. It might not
be the obvious choice when thinking of a holiday in Wales, but as
the video proves there's so much to do and some stunning
scenery. Enjoy!
Whilst we've already mentioned some of Wales best
attractions that are well known about, we also have a lot of hidden
Dewstow Gardens, near Chepstow is quite literary one of Southern
Wales' hidden gems. The gardens were originally built around the
turn of the 20th century and included all the things
you'd expect in gardens - rockeries, ponds, water features and
loads of plants and shrubs etc. But the highlight was a
subterranean world of tunnels and grottoes housing many tropical
and unusual plants.
Over the years the gardens fell into disrepair and the tunnels and
grottoes were filled in and forgotten about. That is until
the start of the 20th century when the land's new owners
started clearing the land. Curiosity got the better of them
so they started digging and were amazed to discover the network of
tunnels that had laid undiscovered for over 50 years.
A massive restoration project was undertaken and today the gardens
have been restored to their former glory so that we can enjoy what
was hidden away for decades.
To find out more about Dewstow
Gardens click here
It's that time of year again.
The eyes of Wales will this weekend be focused on Cardiff as the
Six Nations rugby tournament kicks off.
Wales will be looking to repeat their heroics of last year when
they won all five of their games to secure their 3rd
Grand Slam in seven years.
There'll be a tremendous atmosphere up and down Wales as the
country comes to a stop to watch the game and the streets of
Cardiff will be full of rugby fans enjoying the city's legendary
match day atmosphere. There is nowhere in the world better to
be than Cardiff on the day of a big match.
Wales' fixtures in this year's championship are below:
Saturday 2 February - Wales v Ireland, Millennium
Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 9 February - France v Wales, Stade de France,
Saturday 23 February - Italy v Wales, Stadio Olympico, Rome
Saturday 9 March - Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday 16 March - Wales v England, Millennium Stadium,
Event - Interceltic Festival
Location - Porthcawl
Date - 1 - 3 March 2013
It's almost that time of year again when the seaside
resort of Porthcawl reverberates to the sound of some great Celtic
music. It's time for the annual Porthcawl Interceltic
Singers, dancers and musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall,
Brittany, the Isle of Man and of course Wales descend on the town's
Grand Pavilion for three days of concerts, performances and
Although the pavilion is the base for the weekend's festivities,
the whole town gets into the Celtic spirit with events happening
throughout the resort. The highlight being the Parade of the
Celts - a colourful procession through the town's streets by the
festival's participants, many in their National Dress. The
parade heralds the start of the proceedings which then continue all


text:
The last few sewing nights have been more quiet. Feb 27, we had a decent sized crowds, but the shenanigans were kept to a minimum. Perhaps it was because a couple of the "trouble-makers" were away. In any case, we had a great night.
Tara (she's coming soon, but you haven't met her yet; she works at the upholstery shop with us.) donated a bag of old jeans to be cut into squares for rag quilts. Emma had to check that out right away.She fell in love. Cats are so funny.
They finally got some pictures of me! Here I am enjoying freshly mixed iced tea, and making a goofy face that turned out hilarious! :D
Fast forward to Mar 6. It was a very quiet night. Only Corrin came, after her yoga class. I took advantage of the quiet and finished 2 repair jobs, and started working on my beach dress for my birthday party on March 16. I'm having a beach party instead of a St Patty's Day party this year.
This is one of the half a dozen maxi dress patterns I bought last year. I was really hoping I had more fabric, but alas, I have to settle for the short version. Oh well. It'll be cute, too.
I got it laid out and pinned, ready for the scissors next week.
And on March 13, I did get it cut out. I also got to coach Allee again. She came to the shop for the day, and practiced sewing on the industrial machine. This girl has natural sewing talent! I can't wait to watch her hone her skills.She's making a sweater out of this pink camouflage fleece. She got all the primary seams sewn, serged, and pressed. Next week, we'll conquer the sleeves, cuffs, shawl collar, pockets, and bottom band. It reminds me how easy fleece is to work with. It's about time I make myself another Jalie hoodie, I think!
It was another quiet night. For the first half of the evening, Allee and her mom, Sue, hung out with me, and later, Corrin came. She brought cake, since it's my birthday week. Aw! She's such a sweetie.
I will take lots of pictures share a post about my beach birthday party, and my beach dress. Stay tuned!


text:
Video Game News, Reviews and Reflection! New Articles Released Randomly Every Week!
Get ready for another round of Sid Meier's newest release.
In a trailer released today, we got our first look at the newest game from legendary strategy designer Sid Meier. Sid Meier's Starships, slated for a Spring 2015 release, according to the trailer, seems to take the universe from Civilization: Beyond Earth and take it in a whole new direction: instead of colonizing a planet, it appears we will soon be colonizing the stars.
The trailer, which consists of fully-rendered cutscenes, shows no gameplay, but considering the series and the designer, we can look forward to some variation of the 4X setup Civilization has perfected. As for the title itself, it appears to be a standalone game. Firaxis has promised some form of cross-connectivity for owners of Beyond Earth, though no details were offered, but if 2K and Firaxis have proven anything over the years, it's that when it comes to strategy, disappointment is not a possibility.
Sid Meier's Starships will be released on a download-only format for the Windows PC, Mac and iPad platforms.


text:
Artist's description:
In the stillness of the passing moment, one can always find the reasons of time.
This image is part from the short series "Personal Jesus" and is available in strictly limited, 2 edition sizes:
40/60 cm- edition of 10 + 2 AP
66.6/100 cm- edition of 5 + 1 AP
All prints are numbered and labeled with artist's signature, and come with a certificate of authenticity. Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Ultra Smooth. 305 gsm - 100% Cotton paper and has a 2cm white border (image size with white border - 44/64cm).
This work will be shipped rolled in a secure tube.
Materials used:
Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Ultra Smooth. 305 gsm
Someone to hear your prayers (2016)
Photograph by Vera Petkova
- Photograph on Paper
- From a limited edition of 10
- Size: 25.2 x 17.32 x 0.39 in (unframed) / 23.62 x 15.75 in (actual image size)
- Signed and numbered certificate of authenticity
- Style: Surrealistic
- Subject: Abstract and non-figurative
This artwork is sold by Vera Petkova from Bulgaria


text:
orth America is so vast and diverse, that sometimes you will want to see a few places on your trip
across the Atlantic. On this page we will show you just a few popular twin centre holidays.
However, don't worry if your ideal combination isn't here, we CAN arrange it...
All YOU have to do - is call us and let us know what you need!


text:
Spoiler warning for Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). What can I say about this movie except "excellent"? It's probably my 2nd favorite movie of all time, right after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which I've talked about before on this blog. I'll admit that I was surprised. I never expect much of sequels, but … Continue reading Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Category: Commentary
Before You Edit…
After finishing the first draft, it's normal to want to celebrate. Go ahead, grab some snacks and/or drinks of your choice. Go out to dinner with your friends or family. Pat yourself on the back, take a few days off if you've been working nonstop for a while, and generally enjoy yourself. Then it's time … Continue reading Before You Edit…
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: An Action Movie that Handles Drama Well
I'm a writer, not a movie critic, but I just had to say something about this movie that's rocketed to the top of my "top ten movies of all time" list. I've seen it five or six times in the theater already, and I'm planning to buy it literally as soon as it appears in … Continue reading Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: An Action Movie that Handles Drama Well
Character Descriptions, or the Lack Thereof, in Books
I've noticed something odd, during my time as a writer and reader. Has anyone else noticed this? The vast majority of books don't give detailed descriptions of their main characters, if they give any description at all. At most, we might get "red-haired with tan skin". What shade of red? How tan? Are we talking … Continue reading Character Descriptions, or the Lack Thereof, in Books
Writing is Difficult, and the Many New Drafts of Book 3
I know that when you're reading a really good book, it can seem like the story came together effortlessly. Like the author just sat at their computer one day (or typewriter, if it's an old book) and magically tapped the whole thing out by hand in one setting. Indeed, there are probably a bunch of … Continue reading Writing is Difficult, and the Many New Drafts of Book 3
Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, & Contests
Anyone who's been on my blog probably already knows that I'm a novelist. The vast, vast majority of my finished works are novel-length or almost there, even if they haven't been published yet. There is a very simple reason for this: My ideas are complicated. The world of Pandemonium can not be compressed into less than … Continue reading Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, & Contests
Book Review: Cuckoo Song
Today's book: Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge Let's get straight to the point: This book has uprooted The Great Gatsby as my all-time favorite book. I am not exaggerating. Which is odd, because I usually don't react that much to books. I worry that I'm being too generous with my praise, but when I like … Continue reading Book Review: Cuckoo Song
Self-Employed Writers Can Save the World
Well, the literary world, at least. Think about it: what can we do that writers tied up with big-name publishers can't? We can write what we want. I'll give you an example I'm very familiar with. What happened to (arguably) some of the best sci-fi shows ever? They were cancelled. Seriously. They cancelled the original Star … Continue reading Self-Employed Writers Can Save the World
First Draft Syndrome: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments
Here's something all writers are familiar with. Other artists too, now that I think of it. When you look at the title, what do you think? First Draft Syndrome (FDS) is now an official medical diagnosis, because I say it is! Reading an affected First Draft can cause the following symptoms: In the writer Feelings … Continue reading First Draft Syndrome: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments
Write What You Know?
Many people have probably run into this well-meaning piece of advice during their lifetime, writers or not. It was in all of my creative writing classes in school. On the surface, it's a good idea. It avoids any messy misconceptions or mistakes when writing people from a different background, and it still allows for wide … Continue reading Write What You Know?


text:
Three Ways to Win at Thanksgiving Decorating!
Disclaimer: All photos used for this post were royalty free. All images and videos on Pixabay are released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.
When you open up your favorite magazine around the fall time, they always show tables dressed to the nines with delicious foods and beautiful displays. Sometimes those displays can be a little overwhelming, plus you wonder how the heck the person who puts that on their table has the time to make it. Well, I have some top tips for making the best display without overcrowding your table, plus they are fun and functional and work with you and not against you in the long run.
Harvest wreath!
Everyone is hanging up their wreaths right about now, signaling the celebration of the fall and trying to show their neighbors that they have mad skills with a glue gun.
1) Get a fall inspired wreath. You can get a pre-made one or if you have the skill and time get a bare one and make it your own. Stick with rustic colors such as copper, gold, orange, and brown. If you want to add some pops of color, add sprigs of evergreen. You can get most of these pieces from your local craft store, or if you want to save some money pick up a few things from outside. Make sure they are clean and free of bugs or you'll have extra guests at your thanksgiving feast. PS: Stay away from the glitter, because no one wants glitter in his or her food.
2) Use it as a display. I know most of the people would hang their wreath on the door, but why not lay that sucker on the table and get some function out of it. It acts as a display and can hide the glass or aluminum dish that holds your pie.
Want a simple DIY to deck your table? Check out this video for how to make maple leaf roses and to your fall inspired wreath courtesy of ThreadBanger.
Pumpkins! Gourds! Oh, My!
They start popping up in mid to late September and hold strong until the end of November, but this gourd is the best thing to decorate with. If you make your own pumpkin puree, then you always wonder what to do with that left over, hallowed out pumpkin. Why not make it a serving dish? If you make a fabulous pumpkin dessert dip or a pumpkin soup, then use that hallowed out pumpkin. Make sure it is clean inside and out and plus you can throw it away after you are done. Or even use it to house your special bouquet, keep to the fall theme by including sticks of wheat, strands of faux pumpkins, and springs of evergreen.
Want to make a pumpkin dip for your dessert table? Check out this recipe courtesy of Carolina Charm.
Make the Turkey the main attraction!
This should be a given, but place that turkey in the middle of the table. It will be an eye catcher, but also it will be central for sharing. If you are not doing turkey as your main protein or even doing meat, then make sure you have that main dish as the center as well. If is a non-meat main dish, then place it on a beautiful platter and arrange the side dishes that will compliment the dish well. It can help your guests with what they should put on their plate and a non-formal menu. Doing two main dishes? Have them pre-sliced or pre-cut and displayed on a big platter. You can separate them with roasted vegetables or even decorative items.
Going meatless this holiday season? Check out this post from Buzzfeed featuring 22 meatless main dishes. I might have to try the Roasted Fall Vegetable and Ricotta Pizza with some left over veggies.
Those were my simple tips to making sure your Thanksgiving gets the best treatment and is Instagram-worthy. What are you making this Thanksgiving? Take a picture of your table layout and tag me (@michelethegram) on Instagram. I would love to see yall's delicious dinners. Stay tuned for tips on how to prepare a great menu for your feast.
Stay Beautiful!


text:
Most people with less space tend to think that a wardrobe may not be the perfect choice for them. This is due to the common reasoning that a wardrobe consumes a whole lot of pace in a room so you need to have enough of it. However, this should not be always case. There are smart ways of having a wardrobe in your room and still have space for various fittings within the area. One of the types of wardrobes good for a person with such a need is floor to ceiling wardrobes. As the name suggests, they are designed in such a way that there is more focus on the length rather than the width. Floor to ceiling wardrobes can help you minimize on the less space you have while still giving you the benefit of an arranged closet of clothing items and other accessories.
They are also advantageous in that there is reduced cleaning effort. Have you ever tried to clean a wardrobe that was obviously too high for you? It can be a very frustrating experience. However, since floor to ceiling wardrobes are fitted with no spaces left on the upper side and lower, there is no way cob webs or dust might penetrate through. This makes your work easier. Here are other advantages of such wardrobes;
- They make the room look neat
- They are easy to install than other types of wardrobes like built in wardrobes home
- They require less space therefore can accommodate people with smaller houses
- They look beautiful, elegant and classy.
Here at fci London in London we have a cute collection of floor to ceiling wardrobes for every customer. Do not let less space prevent you from getting that smart wardrobe in your room. Call us today and we will ensure it happens.


text:
The Elephant in the Room is a new series written by LAF attorneys discussing their experience representing individuals in situations impacted by systemic racism.
"It's a text-book example of institutional racism."
This was University of Chicago Professor Chris Berry's conclusion when he testified, last summer, before the County Board discussing the disparate impact felt by Cook County residents in their property tax assessments. If you've been following the news (or the election cycle), you may be aware that there have been some problems brewing with the Cook County Assessor's Office. A study conducted by the University of Chicago showed a discrepancy where lower-priced homes were over-valued and higher-priced homes were lower-valued. If this conclusion is correct, this system shifted the tax-paying burden to lower socio-economic neighborhoods; neighborhoods composed primarily of people of color.
The disparate implementation by the Assessor's Office poses severe risks to lower-income neighborhoods—many people who often come to LAF seeking help. We see how the inability to keep a home decreases a family's ability to create wealth; it requires them to make big financial sacrifices to keep their home—maybe their child's college tuition can't get paid, or they have to pick between paying the tax bill or medicine and groceries for the month. For those that can't keep up with payments, they may feel forced to sell quickly, losing out on their investment. In dire cases, the county may sell the taxes to a tax-buyer and if the home owner cannot repay those taxes, the tax-buyer may take ownership of the home through a tax-deed.
This says nothing of the physical and mental stress people experience fighting to save their house, or the damage it inflicts on children who may have to move to new schools, or the depression an elderly parent may fall into when they can no longer afford their home.
Proponents of the current system argue that anyone has the right to appeal their assessment. And that is true, there is an appeals process. But just like so many complicated parts of our legal system, those that need access to this remedy have a more difficult time accessing it. U of C's study found that wealthier neighborhoods appealed at a much higher rate than lower-value neighborhoods. Wealthier neighborhoods also saw assessment reductions more frequently than poorer neighborhoods. Wealthier neighborhoods are more likely to be represented by attorneys as well. Attorneys, logically, target higher-income clients in order to reap higher rewards. In 2015, attorneys earned 22 million dollars in attorney's fees involving assessment appeals. Unfortunately, for those living in lower-income neighborhoods, the return on investment for an attorney to file an appeal for a single-family home won't match what that attorney could earn representing multi-unit condo associations. A person who is low-income, living in a low-income neighborhood, with a home that is valued high, but can only be sold for a much lower price, will be hard-pressed to find an affordable legal representative.
This is the gap LAF tries to bridge—we field calls from people on the verge of losing their home and our Consumer Practice Group steps in to help. Some clients are advised on their right to appeal the tax assessment of their home. Other times we guide clients through obtaining the correct tax exemptions as home owners. In cases where the clients have fallen too far behind in tax payments, we represent them in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which allows them to catch up on their payments in order to save their home.
The work we do doesn't solve the disparate impact the assessor's system has on our client communities, but by helping them fight in a system that is stacked against them, it reminds them that they have rights and tools available to protect their assets. More importantly, we create security and peace of mind for families who can return to their neighborhoods—to their homes–with the same sense of stability as those in richer zip-codes.


text:
Meet the team
Paul Kyte
Managing Director
Paul has been in the mobility industry since 1996 and has worked in many varied roles in that time. Mobility Scooters Plus was one of the very first online retailers in the UK and Paul started the business in 2005.
Rob Netherclift
Sales Manager
Rob has worked in the mobility scooter trade for a decade and has been with Mobility Scooters Plus for eight years. His knowledge and experience are invaluable to our business and extremely helpful to our customers.
Chris Mote
Internet Product Manager
Chris joined our business in 2011 and is responsible for managing the website content. Chris makes sure that we have the right products at the right prices for our customers.
Neil Walters
Export Sales Manager
Neil has been in the retail industry for over 15 years and has a wealth of experience. Neil has also spent many years involved in export sales and he lived in Continental Europe for a number of years. Neil is a fluent French speaker.


text: Wire Carrier for 8 Water Bottles Price includes NZ GST $ 39.00 Quantity: Get a quote ← Back to products CODE: RT214 Strong plastic coated wire crate suitable for both 750 & 800ml bottles. One piece design. Easy to carry. Fits 8 bottles. Blank on one side to print team name or place a sponsor sticker. FREE DVD FREE eBook FREE Online Video FREE eDrill Cards Email to a friend Ask a question


text:
As a chaplain, he helped raise two black Union regiments during the Civil War and was the first African American to serve in the United States Senate and in the U.S. Congress.
An oil pastel drawing by Douglas Rickard.
more: http://quotes-with-pictures.com/hiram-rhodes-re...
douglas rickard hiram rhodes revels african american union regiments civil war african american portraits
Loading more work by Douglas Rickard...
10% off
for joining the Redbubble mailing list
Receive exclusive deals and awesome artist news and content right to your inbox.
Free for your convenience.


text:
Bullet Mold for an American-made Adams .36 Caliber Navy Revolver by Massachusetts Arms Co. Mass Arms Co. only mfd 1,000 Navy Revolvers 1857-1861 with 600 sold to the US Government. Good condition overall with grey metal turning to patina. Side of mold has some dings in the markings but good clear lettering that is all there in spite of the marks. They read, "MANUFACTURED BY MASS ARMS CO CHICOPEE FALLS". Has dual cavity molds in Fine condition...both for conical shapped bullets. A scarce little mold.
Item# 0926


text:
Category Archives: Stocks & Trading
Investing In Stocks by Term
Most of the people believe that investing in stocks is very complicated but once they learn on the different styles to apply when investing in stocks, they will see that it is not actually hard to trade in stock. It … Continue reading
How Do Dividends Work?
Dividends are normally distributed on a specified time for instance every quarter of a year or every month but there are some special dividends that can be distributed any time. Most people wonder how they can own shares so that … Continue reading
Investment Tips: What Is A P/E Ratio?
If you are a new investor in the stock market, you might have come across several terms that are confusing. In order to be successful in the stock market, you need to understand these terminologies and the basics on how … Continue reading
What Type Of Stock Should You Buy?
Before you can decide to buy stocks, you should first understand the types of stocks available. There are two types of stocks available and these are the common stocks and the preferred stocks. Each of the stocks above has its … Continue reading
Innovative Way of Reducing Days Sales Outstanding
This innovative finance solution can be adopted by both small and mid-sized firms for the same results. Thus process is designed to work well since it does not take any additional debt. Basically, the capital finance is special type of … Continue reading
What is High-Frequency Trading?
High-frequency trading refers to an analysis method that involves the analysis of real time data. Normally this data has a frequency which is much higher than the normal data. It shows the conduct of money and a gauge of market … Continue reading


text:
The French tech rocket-ship is ready for take-off, now let's fuel it with ambition 🇫🇷
There were two big news at the end of last month regarding the French tech ecosystem. Firstly, French VCs have raised more than any other country in Europe in H1 2017 according to Dealroom (and confirmed by Yannick Roux' spreadsheet) and on the receiving end of the VC marketplace, French startups raised a record-breaking €420m+ in September (+45.8% YoY).
What's the explanation for this momentum in the French tech scene?
The basic building blocks of the rocket-ship are finally complete
As I already mentioned at the end of last year, the different elements of building a startup ecosystem had come together and the results of this are now starting to emerge.
Early stage funding is at an all time high
- So, French VCs raised €2.7bn in H1 2017. To put this into perspective, €2.7bn is the same amount that French startups raised in the entirety of 2016, indicating that the trend is here to stay. Most of the big French VC players announced a new fund in 2016 or 2017, and some new players raised their first one. The late Seed / Series A spot is now armed with a huge amount of capital
- In addition to their French counterparts, VCs outside of France also increasingly focused on the country. US-based FirstMark, Battery Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Valar Ventures and Benchmark all announced an investment in French companies in 2016 or 2017, mostly at the Series B stage. Many European VCs did their first investment in France in this period, including the team at EQT Ventures, as well as Mosaic Ventures, Creandum, Global Founders Capital and Project A Ventures. They will probably join the group of European VCs that already have a strong footprint in France, such as Index Ventures (11 investments), Accel (9), Point Nine Capital (7) or Balderton, Felix Capital, Runa Capital and DN Capital (4). Consider June 2017, 10 out of the 12 €2m+ VC-led French funding rounds had at least one foreign VC involved
- Later stage investors are also looking for increased risk/return profiles and hunting in the early-stage category. The most visible round was the €60m investment from General Atlantic in ManoMano, but later stage specialists LBO France and Eurazeo all recently started to invest in startups
- Corporate investors are also an important player in the funding of French startups. For example, close to 30% of all June 2017 rounds consisted of at least one strategic investor. One noticeable initiative is OpenCNP, which was launched by CNP Assurances to invest €100m over the next 5 years
All in all, whatever the source, early stage money is now far from scarce for French startups. As a result, France was #1 in Europe in terms of volume and #2 in value of VC funding in 2016.
A large, motivated and skilled talent pool
- As described, France produces a new wave of talented and ambitious coders, engineers and business guys every year. In addition to traditional and selective engineering and business schools, new type of schools such as Xavier Niel's Ecole 42, HETIC or the even more socially inclusive Simplon.co are taking care of 'producing' developers in a more hands-on way. This talent pool comes at a fraction of Silicon Valley's cost, and with loyalty as a bonus. This is one of the reasons why France boasts good results in "deep tech", most notably machine-learning companies like CallDesk, Shift Technology, or tinyclues
- This talent pool is increasingly willing to found or work for startups, which is a radical change of mindset compared to the traditionally prestigious corporate jobs for graduates. For example, a quarter of the HEC Paris alumni say they want to start their own business
Institutions are turning into accelerators for the ecosystem
A third pillar of the ecosystem is the quality, number and entrepreneur-friendliness of the institutions that surround startups. Here again, France has recently made impressive progress
- Although often depicted as an obstacle to innovation, French political institutions are actually quite helpful and definitely going in the right direction when it comes to supporting startups. Firstly, as Romain Serman highlights, the French public bank BPI France has backed 3600 French startups with soft loans in 2016, up 125% compared to 2013. Secondly, tax schemes like the Credit Impôt Recherche (CIR, which basically pays for 30% of the R&D expenditure for research-heavy startups) or the Jeune Entreprise Innovante label (essentially a big cut on employer's social security contributions for R&D employees) are helping. Finally, I can't not mention the increase in confidence spurred by the election of President Macron, who wants France to be a "startup nation. A nation that thinks and moves like a start-up". Macron acted on his words with "French Tech Visa" (4-year residence permit for entrepreneurs and their families) and announcing some tax breaks fostering investment in startups
- In a more general way, private initiatives around startups are also a clear sign that the ecosystem is maturing. Coworking spaces are blooming in Paris (WeWork and Remix Coworking as well as the long-awaited and largest startup campus StationF). The big international accelerators have also increased their coverage of France. Some, like Techstars and Plug and Play Tech Center, by opening local branches and others by having people on the ground more often. This push means that global organisations are joining forces with local champions, like 50 Partners and The Family, to reinforce the startup education of French entrepreneurs
The positive feedback and experience loop is starting
All of these foundations are assembling around startups, but are they resulting in positive outcomes on the French ecosystem? It's still early, but some elements of the "ecosystem flywheel" are starting to work:
- As I've mentioned here, the missing element that was preventing the French ecosystem from really thriving until now was meaningful exits. The table below shows that the number of exits with a €100m+ value has accelerated over the past few years
- Exits are often a taboo in France, especially when selling this tiny "pépite" to a big US incumbent. It's true that we need more big independent tech champions growing out of Europe, but exits are also a sign of the value of the startups that France is producing and an important indicator of the ecosystem's health. It's worth noting that big US tech companies are now open to acquiring young French tech-heavy startups, like Wit.ai (Facebook), Moodstocks (Google) or recently Regaind (Apple)
- Indeed, from successful companies, "Mafias" are emerging with their founders becoming repeat entrepreneurs and business angels. Most of Criteo's founders and executives are already involved in a new venture. Fotolia's Thibaud and Oleg are building or investing in companies. Zenly's Antoine and Alexis are already reinvesting part of the proceeds of their exit to Snap, just like Eduardo Ronzano or Marc Simoncini. This money often comes with sound advice, extensive network and experience
Clearly, the French tech rocketship is now fully assembled and ready for take-off. But is there still some fuel missing?
The final countdown to lift off — what else is needed?
As I've mentioned above, there's so much good news around the French ecosystem lately. Yet, when you look at the data in Europe, France is not there yet in terms of actual tech champions.
Building champions: we're not there yet
- When looking at GP Bullhound's recent report on "European Titans of Tech" you quickly notice that, well, France doesn't have any titan of tech yet (see below)
- And it gets worse when looking at it on a per capita basis, where France ranks #8, far behind the Nordic champions
We have great engineers, a lot of money available to invest, benevolent institutions and the beginning of a positive feedback loop. Why then are we still waiting for French €10bn+ tech companies, and what does it take to build one and get the rocket ship off the ground?
The final countdown to lift off — what else is needed?
- First of all, we need time. Silicon Valley's history started back in the 1940s with extensive military spending in technology and the creation of Venture powerhouses like Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins as early as 1972.
- Another thing French startups might need is support when it comes to being more product- and customer-centric. French entrepreneurs are often very techy, able to build complex algorithms and best-in-class tech, but may want to turn this into a better product. Spotify's time capsule is a wonderful application of customer-centric algo in a beautiful product. This is one of the reasons EQT Ventures was founded. The fund doesn't just provide access to the capital needed to grow, but also the expertise and knowledge required. The team has members focused on UX, technology, analytics, scaling and marketing. This kind of support and advice from an ecosystem of second and third generation of entrepreneurs is key to the success of the new wave of founders. The ecosystem in Silicon Valley is already well-established and now Europe's support ecosystem is starting to flourish
- Building a company is something French founders have now mastered. But scaling is another story. We need real champions to come out of France and champions are companies that scale. This requires a well-structured customer acquisition machine and a team that can help to nitro charge it.Once this is in place and your startup is ripe for international growth, you need to have the guidance of people who have achieved it before. Don't be shy about asking for advice. In terms of internationalisation, it's good to see French startups like Privateaser starting to use English as their default working language
- Finally, as stated above early stage funding is abundant, but through-the-cycle funding is harder to find. It takes time, advice, support, iterations and money to build European and global champions. EQT Ventures' strategy has been to support companies throughout their journey. This is why EQT Ventures has a multistage €566m fund and the expertise required to help entrepreneurs fulfil their ambitions to become global winners
France is a tremendously promising land for startups and hopefully soon for scaleups, building on the ecosystem's key assets like technical talent, helpful institutions and abundant early-stage funding. EQT Ventures strongly believes in future French tech champions, as shown with our recent investment in CallDesk, and more soon.


text:
Nuts, seeds, grains and pulses all naturally contain bitter-tasting enzyme inhibitors which act as a natural barrier in the wild but are not so nice for our taste-buds! To help counteract this, first we long-soak the highest quality organic nuts in pure filtered water.
The soaking 'activates' the germination process which helps to remove this bitterness to enhance the nut's natural flavour and to allow a sweeter, lighter tasting nut.
Next, we slowly dehydrate them (never roasted!) to carefully preserve the goodness within and to create that signature Nutmost crunch and deliciously moreish taste!
Happy with our activated nut we generously glaze, sprinkle or drizzle them with only the most natural and nutritious seasoning to ensure they not only taste great but do good too.
A look back at how we got here
read more
A look forward to the naughty or nice treats


text:
Are You Wondering How to Sell Your House?
Let Hoover Lake Conroe Help. Learn Why Sellers List With Us:
There are thousands of properties in Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, and Montgomery County on the real estate market at any given time. Hoover Lake Conroe Realty gives you the edge to maximize your potential and sell your property quickly for its highest value.
WE PROVIDE A DETAILED PRICING STRATEGY ON HOW TO SELL YOUR HOUSE using the MLS, tax records, Market Trends and our local knowledge.
WE CREATE TAILORED MARKETING PROGRAMS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY. Each property is unique and requires a personalized approach to stand out from the crowd. We do not create demand, we capture it.
WE HEAVILY INVEST IN MARKETING YOUR PROPERTY by creating property specific materials and utilize online marketing. Nine out of ten home transactions begin on the web. Our digital presence extends from MLS and agency sites to our personal website, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, e-flyers and other social media.
WE UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY including professional photos, aerial photography, video and multiple other channels to support our digital and printed traditional marketing.
WE KEEP IN TOUCH with frequent feedback on showings, prospective buyer's comments, market activity and trends. We will also review our strategy with you monthly to make any required adjustments to sell your home.
WE ARE DIRECT We understand that selling your home is an emotional process. So we remain conscientious and objective to both our client's and the buyer's needs..
WE SIMPLIFY by taking a complicated process and providing you with the most important information on how to sell your house.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON RESULTS and are only satisfied when your home is sold.
WE ARE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS. We are full-time Real Estate Professionals driven to achieve your real estate goals. As a team of married agents, both of us are focused on selling your home for its greatest value.
Below are some tips from Hoover Lake Conroe Realty to help you better understand how to sell your house:
How to Increase the value of your property and get the best price:
- Keep the existing structure of your home in good condition this includes framing, foundation, and basic systems such as plumbing and electricity.
- Specific home improvements such as remodeling a kitchen, adding a bathroom, or upgrading landscaping can increase the value of your property.
- Returns on basic improvements:
- Kitchen remodel can average up to 92.9 percent
- Bathroom additions return an average of 86.4 percent and can add as much as 8.7 percent to the sales price of the home.
- Window and roof replacements return an average of 80 percent
- Make sure to measure improvements against the overall values in your neighborhood. Don't upgrade so much so that the price of your house is above other homes in the neighborhood.
- Curb appeal is a great place to invest in. The outside of your home should convey a welcoming feeling and entice people to walk inside.
- A Comparative Market Analysis (informal estimate of value based on comparable sales in the neighborhood) and Appraisal (certified appraiser's opinion of the worth of a home at a given time) are the most accurate ways to determine the value of your home.
- It is recommended to hire a pre-sale home inspection to indicate major and minor trouble areas that need repairs. Small repairs include: fresh paint, cleaned carpets, repaired cabinets, etc.
- Most purchase contracts include an inspection clause that allows a buyer to back out if numerous defects are found or negotiate for their repair.


text:
Last snippets of Indonesia:
- Went to Yogyakarta to travel the home base for university students studying the arts in Indonesia and to meet up with the guy who took me scuba diving in Makassar. With Yogyakarta as his native city, I feel like I got the perfect dose of tourism, day-to-day life, and just all around good times chilling out.
- The pinnacle of hilarity in the trip was when we built up drunk courage to go to a club and then bailing out as soon as we saw the array of sexy club-goers compared to our homeless, backpacking attire.
- Went to Borobudor with Patrick (the Dutch/Indonesian scuba instructor) and his friend Markus from Papua. Simply spectacular.
- Also attended a political demonstration which was activating against the rise in fuel prices in Indonesia. As with the Occupy movement, there was a fair share of anarchists, rallying against a cause that they just didn't get the jist of. Oh well.
- Spent my last few days with mama back in Jakarta before she headed back to good ol' Vancouver.
- Chilled with a cousin in Jatinangor at her university for a couple nights before a couple more evenings in Jakarta.
- As of April 8th, I was Phuket-bound and 1.6 million Rupiahs poorer (don't over-stay your visa, folks).
Thailand, thus far:
- Hit up Surin beach with 2 girls I met at the hostel, which was INCREDIBLE. Never seen a beach as pristine as this.
- Met a fellow British Columbian who is working as a teacher in Cairo, and since we have acquainted, we travelled to Krabi, Rai Leh and Ao Nang.
- Rode elephants – at an ethical sanctuary! Fear not, people. The master, who I feel was either semi-loco or a tad drunk, Lulu, thought my name was Umbrella.
- Oh yeah, and ran for our lives up a hill in Rai Leh after everyone was running and hollering, "tsunami, tsunami!". Freaky at first, but the philosophy of most of the people at the restaurant that we were evacuated to was to drink beer to calm nerves.
- During the evacuation, Meaghan and I met a Canadian broad and a fella from Goa who both are currently residing in Dubai. Very nice hanging out with them, and I was ultra flattered when they said it was cool that I was travelling solo at such a ripe age (little do you know, I freak out when I'm not keeping myself busy with other activities).
- Officially became ROCK STARS! That's right, we went rock climbing, and oh boy, it has been one of the highlights of my trip thus far, despite an aching body the morning after.
- Celebrated Songkran back in Krabi, which is essentially a huge water fight to ring in the new year. People on the backs of trucks, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and everything in between, engaged in a water war with pistols and buckets spitting out H2O.
- Shitty outcome though: after having my fair share in getting soaked, I got into some dry clothes and carried my backpack for my 12 hour bus ride to Bangkok, which, little do people know (I'm talking visitors here, folks), shows no indication for travelling. Got a tub of icy water dumped on me and my luggage. The result? I came down with a 24-hour fever due to A/C and damp hair for a good 12 hours. Just minty.
- Arrived in Bangkok and what can I say? I wasn't a fan. Could not wait to peace it and head up to Chiang Mai. I did manage to check out Chatuchak weekend market which was sweaty, huge, overwhelming, and above all: super awesome. Also got to see the massive reclining golden Buddha at Wat Pho. Although this was a hotspot for tourists, it was bucket-list material for myself. So beautiful and in a nutshell, I was speechless.
Well, after my 17-hour train and a night at the Little Bird Guest House, I'm now I'm in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand and I have quite the bit of travelling to do in order to complete this mission I have set for myself: get to Laos by tomorrow evening; find my way to Cambodia (which may call for crossing back into Thailand – apparently the Laos-Cambodia crossing is insane); get to Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand no later than the 4th in order to attend the Full Moon fiesta (I'm no party animal, but I'm so close that'd it be something that I'd regret more skipping out on than going to).
From a coffee shop in Chiang Mai,
Amira Loosemore est. 1993 – infinity
Raging nanny – this lady knew what was up.
Evacuation to higher grounds after tsunami warnings; our new friend from Goa remains calm in the midst of chaos.


text:
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Triple Lindy Magic Insult Hand
By keeping the chat off, I entertain myself by imagining what they are thinking.
"I'm ahead! Just don't throw that ace!"
The Flop
"Ah fuck! Well, I still have a shot here..."
The Turn
"Shit! I'm dead to a chop..."
The River
"Ah, come on now! Was that shit really necessary?!"
Posted by Lorin Yelle at 1:59 AM
Labels: Lorin Yelle, royal flush, Short Stack Hero, short stacker, short stacking, Small Stakes Hero, TheDirrty, Travis Rose
I've been playing poker for 13 years and been doing so professionally for 11. This is what I do with the little spare time that I have....and playing Dark Souls 3.
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
CREMA DE AVELLANAS 330g
- Bio hazelnut spread
- Organically produced hazelnuts
This irresistible Monki hazelnut spread is an innovative product aimed at all those seeking healthy food that look after both their health and their figure. As well as its delicious hazelnut flavour, this dried fruit has great benefits for the health. It is rich in vegetable fats, proteins and low in carbohydrates. It also provides a great supply of vitamins and minerals.
In terms of minerals, it is a dried fruit very rich in potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, but also contains calcium and iron. In relation to vitamins, it is very rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, C and B.
It is a product that provides plenty of energy in the form of calories, which helps us to maintain vitality. It is ideal for athletes, pregnant women, the elderly and children due to being a complete food. Thanks to its satiating power, Monki hazelnut spread is ideal for those seeking to lose weight in a healthy way.
Nutritional Facts
|Serving size: 1 spoonful (10g)
|Servings per container: 33
|Amount per 100g
|Energy Value


text:
The Sept. 4 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Mobi Products Soft Shell Case for HTC One. Made of a highly durable TPU material that feels great when gripped, this flexible case features anti-slip properties that gives your HTC One more grip on all types of surfaces. Plus, it has a special anti-dust coating and cut-outs for the screen, camera, ports and buttons. Comes in black, clear, smoke and white.
The Mobi Products Soft Shell Case is available for just $5.25, 65% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!
Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts


text:
Level 4 Diploma
Course Structure
This is a two-year course of 420 guided learning hours. The programme is recognised by the Association of Christian Counsellors (as 600 training hours) and has secular accreditation though the Counselling and Pyschotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). This course has been developed as a progression in learning for those who have completed both Level 2 and 3 courses in Christian Counselling with a recognised ACC agency. BCT counselling courses follow an integrative approach, looking at various models and theories of counselling which students are expected to integrate into their practice. Students are required to complete a supervised placement of 50 hours per annum during the course and to receive personal counselling during the two years.
Course Content
- Taught modules on the course include Person Centred Counselling, Attachment Theory, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Trauma and Abuse, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Spiritual Dynamics, Developments in Neuroscience and Creative Therapy.
- Additionally each student researches a different theory, model, approach or key person in the field of counselling, beginning with Freud right through to twenty-first century issues. They then prepare a paper to be presented in workshop format to fellow students with demonstrations, exercises and interactive feedback.
- Students use audio and visual recordings of a series of counselling sessions conducted during the course. In addition they will prepare and present two case studies to fellow-students and learn how to use supervision and give constructive feedback.
- Teaching will be given by course tutors and guest trainers. Students are expected to supplement training by their own literature and media research to explore, discuss and evaluate the taught material and current significant issues in the field of counselling.
- There will be a continuous assessment of skills, attitudes, self-awareness, knowledge, participation in group work, written assignments and attendance.
Course Requirements
To qualify for this course the student must show a commitment to ongoing professional development by student membership of a professional accrediting body, and be working towards accredited membership of a professional body through supervised practice and maintaining a training portfolio and counselling log. They will be expected to show a good theoretical grasp of their own counselling model and technique and have an adequate level of experience and competence to contribute actively to the course and to gain from interactive work


text:
Short Tales on a Tight Rein
Bright Shards of Someplace Else
By Monica McFawn
University of Georgia 2014
The contemporary short story collection functions as a type of stunt double in relation to the contemporary American novel: relatively invisible despite being the more daring, less glamorous twin, the reckless avatar that enables the frequently placid conventionality of the other. Monica McFawn's Bright Shards of Someplace Else is one such story collection, each of its eleven stories posturing like a dare accepted.
McFawn's written a good first collection, slightly uneven as collections tend to be, but spiked with enough shards of sharp writing and interesting conceits that I finished the book wondering what she will come up with in her next book, which is probably the most satisfying feeling after finishing an author's debut story collection: another writer to set up a Google alert for.
The main characteristic of McFawn's stories is that they are extremely tight, by which I mean that there is no sense of looseness, either in language or detail. Each phrase, detail, and aspect of narrative setting feels highly chosen and deliberate. For instance, each story has a strictly constrained time duration. "Key Phrases" lasts the span of a day. "Out of the Mouths of Babes," a story about a babysitter getting her preteen charge to make various painful phone calls for her, lasts a single evening. "Dead Horse Productions" spans perhaps a couple of hours. A result of this compressed timeline is that the stories feel both charged with meaning and also slightly contrived—everything meaningful happens in such quick succession—but this duality is not entirely unpleasurable.
The collection's best story is "Snippet and the Rainbow Bridge." The story is about Snippet, a horse rescued by two women, Marti and Judy, who run Heart's Journey, an equine rescue nonprofit, where they attempt to rehabilitate and save horses from slaughter. Snippet has suffered a disastrous broken leg and is headed for "the Rainbow Bridge," the duo's name for animal heaven. Each partner, realizing Snippet's condition, calls their preferred big animal veterinarian, and the story consists entirely of the two veterinarians' journey out to the farm. That might not sound like much, but the result is a thrilling quadruple character study that feels almost like an Alice Munro story in its combination of confident rural detail, thrilling deployment of time, and general disdain for the pressures of conventional narrative. Everything in this story feels both unexpected and perfectly chosen, and it showcases some of McFawn's best writing:
A chicken wanders into the feed room, moving to the beat of its clucks, turning its head and giving her a deeply skeptical look, its ruff of red-gold feathers fissuring as it drops its head to peck at the floor. Marti reaches down and brushes her fingers over its comb; it feels to her like the hand of a limp doll.
And here is Judy thinking back to the beginnings of Heart's Journey:
She wants to return to the illogic at the base of the enterprise, when they stood among all kill buyers, the slaughter-truck drivers, the farmers with the Skoal-can circles on their back pockets, the married Amish men with their heavy beards, gravely nodding, as if speech itself were too newfangled.
McFawn is also strikingly evocative whenever she describes horses: "The mare is tall and chestnut, with an excessive femininity to her face—long lashes, big, quivery eyes, fine ears, and a buttery muzzle. Deborah [a person] has the same kind of look, with jutting plump lips that seem to tussle, as if playfully trying to mount one another." At times, the writing reminds me of Annie Proulx, minus the eviscerating cynicism.
Another good story, "The Chautauqua Sessions," partakes of a more leisurely time structure than the other stories. Its plot consists of a handful of days narrator Danny spends at his friend Levi's cabin in remote Appalachian Tennessee. Danny is the long-estranged lyricist for singer Levi. The pair had a series of hits in the 1970s. They've reunited to see if they can write music together again, following a long hiatus which was caused in part by Danny's son, Dee, who has been battling drug addiction for years. Though a sketch of its plot makes it sound like a VH1 special, McFawn makes it much more human. Here's Danny riffing on the Levi's frontman charm:
Levi, for all his sophistication as a performer and musician, is a strangely guileless man, the kind of person whose brilliance, you might say, comes from that ability to be seduced, to emotionally connect with anyone and anything. No matter what he sings, he finds something beautiful and authentic within the words. I've always seen him as a kind of idiot savant, a brilliant, complex performer unburdened by actually being brilliant or complex.
Of course, Dee shows up the first night at Chautauqua claiming that he has kicked his addictions after a bender that ended with him saving someone's life. The father is of course completely unconvinced, but Levi and his live-in cook Lucinda both are. What follows is an increasingly desperate series of maneuvers on the part of the father to illustrate that the son really is a no good piece of crap. Eventually he begins to steal objects from the house in order to frame the son. It sounds cheesy but the reader partakes of his increasing paranoia and sense of betrayal. And of course Dee's drug lingo and various stoned utterances from across the years have infiltrated his lyrics so that he can hardly exist or function without the specter of his son. He is haunted both by his son's past transgressions and his too easily won sobriety.
The sense of the collection's intentional daring is raised further by the inclusion of three extremely short stories, breaking up the rhythm of the longer tales. I'm not sure whether these stories count as "flash fiction" or "micro fiction" or whatever nonce genre has recently been developed out there in the literary mag-o-sphere. They're simply extremely short, and one of them, "A Country Woman," is a delight. It has a light, anthropological touch, part Cheever, part Jhumpa Lahiri, and lasts just the right amount.
She is at all the parties. To invite her is to send the message: I can face up to my faults. A kind of sweet torture is to engage her in conversation in a corner after having a few glasses of wine. The country woman speaks of many things: her family, the farm, weather changes, ham hocks, apple butter, the orneriness of old roosters as opposed to the sass of old hens . . . None of it means anything to you—why should it?—but the telling is full of charm and homespun wit. . . . The only recourse is to keep listening until she loses her charm, thereby affirming yours.
But sometimes the tight rein on the stories just feels strangling. "Key Phrases" is about a manager who has been ordered to fire one of her employees, Mol. The entire story consists of the run-up to the firing. For the duration, the narrator catalogs Mol's sins, both professional and interpersonal. "I could smell Mol's sweat—I thought I could—it was the smell of a stove burner turned on in an abandoned house, the decades-old dinners coming back in smoke." The narrator is so mean that everything turns sickly cartoonish. Of course this might very well be the point, but it doesn't seem to have any payoff. There's no Nabokovian piercing through the scrim of the narrator's sensibility to discover the story's true sympathy. The narrator stalls and so does the story itself.
Other stories feel a little too much like stunts: impressive in their surface complexity but not emotionally gratifying. There are whiffs of a vague George Saundersization in some of these stories, slightly absurd premises that seem lifted from the near future, which in general aren't prominent enough to drive the stories.
The entire endeavor of story writing is difficult. It's a shared difficulty between reader and writer—a challenge to the reader's empathy (so many disparate characters to care for across a collection) and a challenge to the author's ingenuity (eight to twelve new fictional universes to tend and feed). Perhaps that's why in some of our best story writers, particularly the ones who write stories almost exclusively (O'Connor, Saunders), there's a kind of narrowing of subject matter, each iteration a refinement rather than a wholesale reinvention.
What McFawn brings with her first collection is a return of the story collection's sense of potential, to its ability of wholesale reinvention each handful of pages. Likewise, that's why it will be so interesting to see what McFawn comes up with next, whether or not it's another story collection or a novel. Will the aggressive variety of this story collection expand or contract? And most important, will McFawn cover longer spans of time, allowing her characters to breathe in a more relaxed narrative space? Or perhaps McFawn will take these apparent limitations and push them into a governing aesthetic. We'll just have to wait and see.
Barrett Hathcock is the author of The Portable Son, a collection of stories. He lives in Jackson, Mississippi.


text:
I Carry a Gun for Myself and My Family – You Carry for YoursPosted December 15, 2015 by admin
Don't expect me to protect you and your family. As a licensed concealed carrier I'm going to act in my best interests. My Ohio concealed carry license doesn't make me a law enforcement officer, a double-o agent or Jack Bauer. The license simply gives me the right to carry a concealed handgun in public. And it is my right to choose to carry and my right to choose to use it in self-defense. If a mad gunman begins shooting in the area that I'm in, my first thought is to determine if I can safely escape. If I can hit the door without being shot, I'm better off going home safe. But if I'm in the front row to the attack and escaping isn't an option, then yes, I will have to defend myself, that is, I will defend myself until I can escape. Am I a coward or Read More >Leave a comment


text: |Rainy days are dreary. But for some reason, I really like them. I think I enjoy feeling "safe" out of the rain. Especially when it's cold rather than humid outside and you can pile on the layers and boots. I've never really worn summer dresses with tights but it ended up being perfect for taking on the rain.


text:
By Andrew Nelson, Contributor
Every suited Maverick scored on the way to a highlight-filled 100-75 season opening rout of the Central Arkansas Bears Sunday afternoon. Devin Patterson and CJ Carter both led the Mavs with identical stats of 22 points and seven assists each. Mike Rostampour contributed a double-double to the Maverick cause with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Wichita State transfer Jake White started his first game as a Maverick Sunday, with nine points and 11 rebounds before leaving the game midway through the second half with an apparent foot injury.
The Mavericks received 29 points off their bench, and a total of 38 from new additions to the roster.
"I thought our returning players did a good job of setting the tone today for us, and some other guys came in and did some nice things," Head Coach Derrin Hansen said after Sunday's game.
The efforts of the returning players was also supported by newcomers: Tre 'Shawn Thurman had seven points in his first game as a Maverick.
"He (Thurman) got his hand on the ball, he was good around the rim, and kept people up front, so Tre 'Shawn did a lot of things for us, he's very versatile," Hansen said. "He's going to play a big role for us, and he's just gotten better every single day in practice."
Junior transfer Randy Reed had ten points and seven rebounds also in his first game as a Maverick.
"I thought Randy Reed was very good for us off the bench," Hansen said.
Mavs hit the road to play Seattle Wednesday and Marquette of the Big East on Saturday.


text:
Welcome to Week 43 of Friendly Debates With The Danielles!
Each Sunday Danielle from "We Don't Have It All Together, But Together We Have It All" and I will host this awesome meme and we would love for you to link up and join us. There will be a question each week that will require you to think about how you feel about a certain topic and to decide where you stand regarding that topic, then of course share those thoughts!
We do have a few rules… or rather guidelines… that we would appreciate being followed:
1.) Please follow the hosts via FaceBook: Danielle B. & Danielle H.
2.) If you link up please leave a comment so we can visit you.
3.) This is a meme, so you MUST answer the question in a blog post.
4.) Link directly to the blog post in which you answer the question.
5.) Grab the button and place either in your post or on your blog.
(You can find the html code in my right side bar).
6.) At the end of your post leave a suggestion for the following weeks topic.
If we choose your suggestion you will be mentioned and linked to in the following weeks post.
Please respect each others opinions. This means no bashing of other bloggers in comments on their posts. Kind words and genuine questions are encouraged. If you strongly disagree with someone else the place to address your view point is in a post on your own blog. If we find that you have blatantly disregarded this you will be removed from the linky.
Baby On Board Signs: Yay or Nay? What do YOU say?
I'm sure you know exactly the signs I am talking about. Those diamond shaped yellow signs that let every car around you on the road know that there is in deed a baby in your car. When I first found out I was pregnant with Alleigh I was all about having one of these signs for our car. I wanted to shout from the roof tops that I was pregnant and even more so once she actually got here. But that was the only reason I wanted one…. just because I thought they were cute.
I really don't see the thought process of "if I put this on my car it will make other people around me drive safer." If anything it's just going to distract those already reckless drivers even more because their looking at this bright yellow dangly sign in the back of your vehicle.
So I guess long story short I think their kinda stupid. I have never actually had one hanging in my car and don't ever intend to…. but if you think their cute or will help protect your bundle of joy – all the power to ya, hehe.
Oh and just for a giggle….
So what do you think? Leave me a comment or link up and let me know.


text:
"Stayed in a Dic hotel clean lovely view over the sea from room 301 staff very helpful nice swimming pool across road and beautiful beach a choice of both you won't visit many better beaches you could be anywhere stunning went up cable car to ho may park theme rides paint balling and much more 5 minutes from hotel wished is stayed longer love the place fantastic views from top"
Martin P
"This is a solid 4 star hotel with a nice breakfast, free internet in the room. The room is spacious, modern, clean. The room rates is very good. This is a very pleasant surprise here. Helpful and courteous staff. I can definitely recommend this place to others."
Joe Larry
." Great accommdation and within walking distance to the beach. Very clean room with friendly staff. We would definitely come back again."


text:
|Subscribe | What is RSS
Contact: Rachelle Daigneault, 410-629-6088
Contact: Liz Davis, 410-629-6087
Berlin, Maryland – Members of the Baltimore District Army Corps of Engineers Explosive Safety Office have completed an instrument assisted visual survey of 100% of the North Ocean Beach area of the National Seashore and southernmost area of Assateague State Park beach, both previously closed to the public. The team spent two days sweeping the beach with sophisticated instruments for unexploded ordnance and debris from World War II when Assateague was used as a practice site. All items recovered during this survey were deemed to be inert (safe). No live ordnance or evidence of live ordnance was recovered during the survey. Given the findings of the assessment team, officials at Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park have determined that the area is now safe for public access and will reopen. Visitors should remember that Assateague is a dynamic place and it is still possible for fragments, debris and other ordnance to become exposed at any time. These items should still be treated with respect. Visitors should follow the 3Rs, "Recognize, Retreat, and Report." Call 410-641-1441, and press 3 and then 1 to report any questionable metal beach debris.
A portion of Assateague's North Ocean Beach and southernmost portion of Assateague State Park beach were closed Tuesday, June 26 after a piece of beach debris turned in the previous day by a visitor was identified as a fragment of unexploded ordnance from World War II. After consulting with the Ocean City Bomb Squad, per park protocol, the Emergency Ordnance Disposal team from Aberdeen, Maryland was called in. Further evaluation revealed more than 100 pieces of debris and unexploded ordnance, which were then destroyed in controlled blasts. Access to the national seashore was closed during this time and beaches in proximity to the North Ocean Beach area were evacuated for the duration of the events. Following the controlled detonations, officials at Assateague Island National Seashore, in consultation with the Department of Army determined the Army Corps of Engineers should be consulted before reopening the ¼ mile section of closed beach.
All measures are being taken to ensure the public remains safe, and informed about access and closures. The national seashore is now open to the public. All parking areas ocean and bayside are open at both Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park. Camping is also open. Visitors with questions should call 410-641-1441 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information on Assateague Island National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/asis/.