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including -
Ethics: 1.00
including -
Ethics: 1.00
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Ethics: 1.00
Course book included with all formats
When assessing complex information, it often helps to break items into basic building blocks. The same approach can be successful when dealing with asset protection. Be prepared for specific challenges associated with various types of trusts by understanding their unique characteristics. Gain the information you need with this comprehensive overview of the wide variety of trusts available. Order today!
including - Ethics: 1.00
Approved by The Florida Bar, this program may qualify for up to 8.0 general hours of CLER self-study credit including 1.0 hour of self-study ethics credit.
including - Ethics: 1.00
This course will qualify for 7.0 hours of self-study continuing education for paralegals, including 1.0 hour of self-study ethics credit, toward the eligibility requirements of the Florida Registered Paralegal Program.
including - Ethics: 1.00
This seminar meets the requirements of the Certifying Board for Legal Assistants of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., for 6.60 hours, including 1.0 ethics, of continuing legal assistant education self-study credit required to maintain the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) credential.
NBI, Inc. is a NFPA approved CLE provider.
JOHN PAUL BRATCHER is an attorney with Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, where he focuses his legal practice in the areas of advanced estate planning, estate settlement and trust administration; business succession, domicile and charitable planning; probate and trust administration; and wealth preservation. He has extensive experience in all areas of estate and gift planning, including complex planning structures and advanced tax planning strategies. Mr. Bratcher also has a considerable amount of experience with administering estates of high-net-worth decedents, trust administration, and obtaining post-mortem tax savings for estates and beneficiaries. He also represents clients in the formation of tax-exempt organizations and receipt of tax exemptions from the IRS. Mr. Bratcher is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Tax Court. He earned his B.S. degree, cum laude, from Indiana Wesleyan University; his J.D. degree from Ohio Northern Pettit College of Law; and his LL.M. degree, with a certificate in estate planning, from Georgetown University Law Center.
JOHN T. CARDILLO is an attorney with Cardillo, Keith & Bonaquist, where he practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, guardianship, and civil litigation and trial practice. Mr. Cardillo is a member of the Florida RPPTL Section, The Florida Bar Grievance Committee, The Florida Bar, Naples Planning Advisory Board, and the American Inns of Court. He earned his B.A. degree from Boston College and his J.D. degree from Florida State University.
KEVIN CARMICHAEL, MS, JD, LLM, CPA, is a tax partner with the Naples office of Wood, Buckel & Carmichael, PLLC. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Southern districts of Florida, the U.S. Claims Court and the U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Carmichael is a certified public accountant and a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. His practice focuses primarily on matters concerning business entity law, federal and state taxation, international tax and tax controversy, tax-exempt organizations, estate planning and business succession planning law. He taught business law and cost accounting as an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University for six years. He taught income tax law at Ave Maria Law School in the spring of 2012; corporate tax in 2013; partnership tax in the spring of 2014, 2015 and 2016; and exempt organization tax law in the fall of 2014.
GREGORY NUSSBICKEL is an attorney with Nussbickel Law Firm, P.A. His current areas of practice include wills and trusts, probate and estates, business and contracts, and real estate. He is a past adjunct professor at Florida SouthWestern State College, teaching both business law and estate planning courses. The Department of Veterans Affairs has accredited him for Veterans advocacy and he also holds a real estate sales associate license. He is an honors graduate of FSU Law and a former legal extern at the Florida Supreme Court. After gaining experience with a respected national law firm, he later obtained a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from the University of Miami.August 22 - Tampa
GERALD R. COLEN is a partner with Colen & Wagoner, P.A., where he concentrates his practice of law in the areas of elder law, asset protection planning for individuals and business owners, special local government issues, real property and title insurance law, simple and complex estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Colen served as city attorney for the City of St. Pete Beach, Florida for approximately 25 years. During that time, he was involved in innumerable different legal matters, including First Amendment issues, labor and employment grievances, sexual discrimination issues, civil rights, zoning and planning, constitutional law issues, entertainment law, and also the preparation and drafting of ordinances and resolutions. Presently, Mr. Colen is the district legal counsel to four separate community development districts located within Marion County, Florida. He is presently a member of The Florida Bar, the State Bar of Texas, and the Ohio State Bar Association. Mr. Colen received his B.A. degree from The Ohio State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
D. REP DELOACH III is an attorney in the Seminole law firm of DeLoach & Hofstra, P.A., where he practices in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and probate. Mr. DeLoach is board certified in elder law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He has previously lectured for National Business Institute on elder law issues. Mr. DeLoach is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Florida Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Pinellas County Estate Planning Council, the Life Care Planning Law Firm Association, and the St. Petersburg and Clearwater bar associations. He earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Mercer University.
HARLEY S. HERMAN practices litigation, probate and general civil trial law as a managing partner of Herman and Herman, a Plant City law firm. He has taught estates and trust law at the FAMU College of Law and Business Law; criminal justice at Savannah State University; and numerous CLE courses for lawyers, accountants, and law-related professionals. Mr. Herman continues to mentor young attorneys through The Florida Bar's Lawyer to Lawyer program. In addition to his work in estates, trusts and elder law, Mr. Herman earned his LL.M. degree from Stetson University College of Law and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
KAREN G. NOLAN is an attorney at the Tampa law firm of Wetherington Hamilton, P.A. Her practice concentrates on trusts and estate planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate and trust administration, guardianship, and elder law. Ms. Nolan is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; Academy of Special Needs Planners; Florida Guardianship Association; Elder Law and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law sections of The Florida Bar; and Hillsborough County Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section). She has been an adjunct professor of legal studies at Seminole State College, teaching wills, trusts and estate administration, and legal research and writing courses; and she has also guest lectured at Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. Ms. Nolan is admitted to practice in Florida. She received her B.A. degree from the University of Miami and her J.D. degree from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Nolan was a member of the Editorial Board of the Barry University Law Review, a legal research assistant, and served as a judicial intern in 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Sanford, Florida.
REGINA E. RABITAILLE is a partner with Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, where she focuses her practice primarily in the areas of probate, trusts and estates, and transfer tax controversy matters. This includes, without limitation, handling the full gamut of the administration of estates and trusts, preparing gift and estate tax returns, planning for the succession of closely held or family business, drafting sophisticated estate plan documents, asset protection planning, and handling many contested tax matters in the transfer tax area and contested matters of will and trust administration and interpretation. Ms. Rabitaille is a member of The Florida Bar. She received her B.S. degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida; her LL.M. degree from New York Law School; and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
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What kind of Christmas tree ornament does a home inspector use?
Well, only the best!
And what did you expect?
I love doing home inspections - old homes, new homes - you name it.
If I could afford to live independently I would do home inspections for free!
My recommendation: one could say that the Christmas tree represents a certain Carpenter, a fashioner of trees, and that we are those being fashioned individually. One could say that the lights represent the stars in the sky with the tree capped by the larger, more visible Star of Bethlehem. And one could say that the ornaments represent the gifts of the Wisemen who sought the Person the bright Star announced. So pick ornaments that represent you and what you would give as gifts! Doing anything good unto the least of anybody is the same as doing it unto the Carpenter. Give everything you do your best shot!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560

subset: commoncrawl


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According to the neuroscientists, listening to music activates the visual cortex in the brain and appropriate imagery to match the music are conjured up. A good cover art resembles to the image what we see inside when listening to the music and is an essential part of every album.
When I found Album Covers Plus, I was hoping for an app that would fill in the holes for all the digital music I own without cover art, removing a nagging annoyance. That's not entirely the case.
I always liked the iTunes feature that creates art from different albums covers for mix CDs. Album Covers Plus ($0.99) is pretty much different: it is not a cover database neither a search engine nor a cover designer tool. Finding or drawing a nicely looking cover is still your task but the app is capable to use the images on your computer as a cover art for any song or album.
The best part: The application can be used not only for uploading cover images but for editing the title, artist, album or genre, which is very useful to keep your collection organized.
If you are a musician with limited resources and looking for an app that will help you to create your own music cover, the app called TAD – Music Cover Art Design ($1.99) is the best choice. The app has many templates to start with or you can start making a cover art from scratch. With its easy to use tools, nice fonts and art elements one can create high quality album art in minutes. Adding logos, changing transparency, coloring, fading, scaling or cropping and many other functionalities are built in and the resulting cover art can be exported in 3000 x 3000 pixels which can be directly used on iTunes, Beatport or Spotify.


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German Solar Direct
starting from $4890.
PSW Energy German-made solar energy systems produce up to 2.5 x more power guaranteed when compared to average Tier-1 labelled solar systems found elsewhere. In fact, when comparing cost per kWh generated over a systems warranty defined life, PSW Energy German solar systems cost half the price than that of the cheapest solar systems. You've worked hard for your money. Get what you know is proven and save more.
Battery ready? Absolutely. PSW Energy's German solar range are all equipped to be 100% battery ready with the SolarWatt range of solar batteries. Made in Germany, SolarWatt boasts the world's most efficient and the safest solar battery available with a 100% depth of discharge. No other battery comes close.
German solar systems by PSW Energy are built to deliver you the best return on investment hands down. Feature-packed with superior software included and the ultimate in future-proof design. Your journey to save more starts here.


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Article content
Re: "Taxpayers and students win with school choice," McKenzie Hahn, Opinion, July 8.
The public school system takes all types: it does not exclude on the basis of race, creed, background, language, origin or religion. No one is turned away. No one has to take an intelligence test. No one is refused admittance if they have a disability — unlike what happens in too many private schools.
The public school system is not exclusionary like Strathcona Tweedsmuir, charging their students $20,000 a year to attend high school. Of all the private schools funded in Alberta, roughly 39 per cent are based on elitism (i.e., they charge tuition), while 43 per cent are religious. This supports my position that, in the main, private schools separate children on the basis of wealth and the religion of their parents.
Furthermore, the stats used to support private school choice are questionable at best. If anyone bothered to do their research, they would know there are a wide variety of studies that show public education leads to both better outcomes for individuals and societies.
It is also ludicrous to cite Finland's education system in support of the position that funding private schools is a good thing. Faith-based schools outside of the public system in Finland are extremely limited, because every school is required to be approved by a vote in their national assembly. Finnish schools cannot charge tuition, and they must accept everyone regardless of ability or faith. Let's also remember that 97 per cent of the Finnish population are either Lutheran or have no religious affiliation at all — which is quite different compared to the multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious makeup of Alberta.
The Finland voucher system is based upon parents' ability to select any public school that they want their children to attend in that country. We have the same thing here in Alberta. Parents are allowed to send their children to any public school that they would like (space permitting).
Government resources should be spent on services that move a society forward. A fully funded and properly managed public education system can, does and will provide Albertans with ample amounts of choice to accomplish this goal. Accordingly, there is no need to subsidize elitist education for the wealthy, religious schooling for myriad different belief systems, or any other reason individuals may feel that the public system is not for them.
It is time Albertans decide whether we want to separate our children on the basis of wealth and religion by subsidizing private schools or commit ourselves to the principle of equality of opportunity, which recognizes that whether you were born of a rich family or one that struggles, whether you are Christian or Muslim, whether your child has a physical or learning disability or is the next Albert Einstein, your child is going to get a fair chance to succeed in this province through government-funded world-class public education.
If parents do not feel that the public system is good enough for their children, well, that is in fact their choice — but let them pay for their choice at a private school. Don't ask other Albertans to fund it.
Kent Hehr is MLA for Calgary-Buffalo and Liberal education critic.


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The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) announced results for the Deep Learning Facility Testbed. IIC-member participants Dell EMC and Toshiba developed an application to explore deep learning through neural networks within an IoT platform to optimize asset utilization in an office building.
The Deep Learning Facility Testbed analyzes 35,000 measured data points per minute, working to optimize the maintenance of monitored assets of the building. With this amount of data collected, the testbed relies on artificial intelligence to detect anomalies to improve the visitor experience with things like prioritized elevator scheduling and automated temperature and lighting controls.
The structure of buildings varies and it's very costly to design an anomaly detection system to fit the building. The testbed application learns what a normal condition would be using data aggregated from many sensors installed in the facility. The team has been able to use the data to determine an unusual condition, locate the suspected device and let staff check if the inference is correct. For example, the testbed detected the unusual state of the air conditioning equipment in the kitchen and building facility management staff found out that the air intake ducts in the kitchen had been closed to avoid odor by kitchen staff.
According to the Navigant Research Smart Buildings and Smart Cities Q3, 2017 report, the global smart buildings for smart cities market is expected to grow from $3.6 billion in 2017 to $10.2 billion by 2026. For more information, visit the Industrial Internet Consortium.


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Mum Bloggers and Business Owners are in a league of our own. Many of us juggle kids, life, blogs/businesses and some also hold down a 9-5 job. It's time to celebrate some of these beautiful women.
Today, I sit down with and learn more about Anne from the blog One Determined Life.
Anne is a married mother of 3 who graduated from Teachers College in 2007. While pregnant with her eldest daughter Anne decided to become a stay at home Mum and hasn't looked back.
Anne says that, as a Christian parent, there is so much going on in life. It's a bit chaotic and at times she struggles to balance all responsibilities and have peace that she is doing a good job.
And that's why Anne started her blog. She loves to help women discover who they are in Christ and how to be a mother, a wife in the light of the gospel. Her blog helps women through blog posts and resources that will help them meet their needs. Anne's latest free resource is 30 days of praying for your marriage.
Recently, I sat down with Anne to find out how she does it!
Why did you start blogging?
To help women apply to the truth of the bible to their marriages and parenting by creating resources and blog posts to help and encourage them.
What is the hardest thing about balancing your blog with your life?
In the blogging world. there are so many things to think about. So, for me, the hardest thing is finding the time to get everything done. It has also been hard for me to learn what I should prioritize- weather that is time on Pinterest vs creating video content vs doing the laundry. But the hardest thing I have had to learn is how to let go of the things that I have not had time to do and to have peace with the work I have been able to do.
I have almost quit so many times, but I choose to keep going. I even wrote a post about it here.
What makes blogging worthwhile?
My blog is still small so I don't have a large network and so some days I feel discouraged and ask myself: who am I helping? Is anyone actually reading this?
So, for me, the more worthwhile thing is when I get an email or a comment that thanks me for what I have written and knowing that I am actually helping and encouraging people.
Ok, so what does a typical week look like to you?
I am a one-person show, so I write, market, plan and create all of my content. I am also a mother of 3 and have a husband with many responsibilities. So, for me, every day is a bit different.
I have learned that I am most productive when I batch tasks and when I have specific days of the week where I get things done.
Below is the schedule I have made for myself but it is flexible and can change.
-Schedule Tailwind for the week
– Schedule Facebook and Instagram posts for the week
– Create content (this can be written posts, images, or video)
(Mondays are usually my most productive days)
– Share post on facebook groups
– Take my son to Moms and Tots
– Find collaboration opportunities/ work on content for those connections
This is one of my flex days. I am either having friends over, going to playdates or if I stay home I work on my blog
– Share posts on facebook groups
– Create content ( this can be written posts, images, or video)
– Discover bloggers on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram to follow and read/ comment on content
– I go to a weekly ladies bible study group in the morning
– Thursday is also early out day for my kids so I only have 2 hours of time to get things done. I usually use this time to learn more about marketing and the blogging world.
– I Write and schedule my newsletter
– In the afternoons, I take a break from blogging and work on other things such as writing lessons plans for Sunday school or planning for day camp that I am directing this summer at my church.
Every day I start by checking emails and respond as needed. I also stop working at 3 and pick up my kids from school.
When they get back, we spend time together, do housework and make dinner.
I then spend most evenings spending time with my husband or just relaxing.
There are many things that I still have not perfected that I am learning about. I am still trying to balance how much work I do and when to do it.
Some weeks, I take a break from everything just to help my brain reset.
This day to day helps me to be focused on my tasks but also gives me the time I want to spend time with family, friends and other interests.
Life is definitely busy for Anne but it looks like she's got it all under control with great systems in place. Thank you for contributing to this series, Anne.
Visit Anne's blog and follow One Determined life on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.
Apply now to have your blog featured in the Day In the Life Of Series!
Kirsty is the founder of That Noise Is Mine.
An established blogger, writer and business owner raising 4 children independently. Kirsty is determined to succeed in this new life forced upon her.
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Regular price
Coffee is shipped whole bean to ensure freshness and flavor.
Hidden House Coffee, based in San Juan Capistrano & Santa Ana, California
Hidden House Coffee, based in San Juan Capistrano & Santa Ana, California
When you spend 4 years in the U.S. Marines, deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan, and don't know what's next for you in the civilian world, what do you do? You start your own business, of course, which is exactly what Ben Briggs did, the owner of Hidden House Coffee.
This is a story that is approachable and relatable. It began with a simple idea to open a mom and pop shop, one with sandwiches, ice cream, and coffee, ya know, your standard local cafe experience where you can sit and work, befriend the neighbors, or just chill out and watch life move around you. In fact, Hidden House Coffee wasn't started with the intentions of being a nationally-recognized coffee brand. Ben humbly shared with me that his vision began knowing absolutely nothing about the specialty coffee industry, and naturally, HHC had no identity or culture when it first opened back in 2010. He even confessed that one of his biggest mistakes throughout the process of finding success was expanding TOO quickly, and he and his crew actually scaled down from 4 locations originally, to now 2 booming locations in San Juan Capistrano and Santa Ana, California. In those first few years, as the HHC family learned more about the industry, they started to value higher quality products, and at one point, even served coffee from other local coffee roasters. After a few bouts of trial and error in business ownership, Ben and his crew decided to buy a roaster in 2013, and before the roaster was even installed, Ben booked a plane ticket to El Salvador to start sourcing coffee. Ever since, they have been pushing to get better and better at what they do, and today, 30 employees later, Hidden House does all of their own roasting, bakes all of their own pastries, and prides themselves on having a "service first, product second" value system. As I've personally discovered in getting to know a few of the HHC folks and their loyal followers, people LOVE them and their little yellow house. The community they get to build through their shops is sourced by connecting with other humans, being warm to every guest that walks in, serving with a smile...and it just so happens that they roast some damn good coffee too. If you're in SoCal, don't leave without paying a visit to one of their cozy cafes, followed by some kick-ass eats at Dear Lacy, Ben's newest project!
The Coffee / Words from Jon (Green Buyer)
The Coffee / Words from Jon (Green Buyer)
"When it comes to green buying the formula is simple. Work with importers you trust, exporting coffee from farmers you trust. We have certain people we buy the same coffees from every year. We also work with companies that are VERY transparent with their work at the farm level. One particular company works with 4,500 different producers in the countries they operate in. The estimate that they have impacted more than 50,000 peoples lives in coffee growing countries. That is something very important to us, but not the only thing we value. The coffee also has to be delicious. If both of those boxes are checked, we are happy. With the specialty coffee industry still being young and small, the industry is very relational. As the buyer, I work very closely with our importers, making sure were getting great coffee all year round. Once they understand the vision of HHC, they spend time trying to match us with the best coffees to fit our vision."
Pictured from left to right: Shane (Wholesale Director,) Lee (Roaster,) and Jon (Green Buyer & Roaster)
The Farm / Xavier Garcia, Cotacachi, Ecuador
The Farm / Xavier Garcia, Cotacachi, Ecuador
Xavier has been producing coffee for 7 years, but up until 1 year ago, he had no idea that his coffee had a high potential to be commercialized as specialty coffee. He started producing coffee because he was looking for a consistent product that would help him receive fair incomes so he could improve his quality of life. However, in previous years, the associations and coffee merchants were not being fair on prices, coffee was not profitable for him, and payments were delayed, which was very upsetting for Xavier. His motivation was decreasing, and in fact, during the years that he was receiving low prices for his crop, Xavier had never tried his own coffee, he didn't appreciate the product at all, and he felt it wasn't even worth even tasting. This changed when he discovered that he could produce great coffee and sell it to companies that would offer him better prices. 2017 was the first time that Xavier tasted his own coffee, after he took a sample to the Caravela warehouse and they gave him a cup to taste. When he returned to his farm, he took a small sample, roasted it, and tasted it again. In this moment, Xavier became motivated and realized the coffee was not as bad as he thought.
COUNTRY: Ecuador
REGION: Cotacachi
PRODUCER: Xavier Garcia
PROCESS: Washed
VARIETALS: Caturra
FLAVOR PROFILE: Tropical, Green Grape, Graham Cracker
This coffee is clean and sweet. Tropical juiciness is balanced by a sweet graham cracker finish. A malic acidity drives the cup and keeps you coming back for more. We'd recommend this coffee for batch brew, pour over, or single origin espresso.


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In an agenda short on action items but long on discussion, the Pasadena Unified School Board Thursday looked at a proposal to alter the Board's committee structure, perhaps even to eliminate its committees entirely. This would mean all discussions on all governance issues would take place only at full Board meetings.
Based on bylaws introduced in 1996 and updated in 2014, the Board currently has six active committees—Board Policy, Facilities and Capital Projects, Finance Committee, Master Plan/Boundary Subcommittee, Measure J Ad Hoc Committee, Student Safety and Conduct Committee, 7-1 Surplus Property Committee—and one inactive committee, the Drop Out Task Force Committee.
According to Pasadena Unified Board Member Patrick Cahalan, "no" local school districts have the same committee structure that the Pasadena School District does.
"[Other Districts] bring up [issues] during the actual meetings, perhaps, or they have extra meetings where these things are discussed," said Cahalan. "So we are unique, at least with the folks I've talked to."
But Cahalan agreed there was value in the formal structure of committees and incorporating the use of District staff to research various issues, and also noted that staff or residents may not be comfortable being "on camera" at Board meetings prefer instead take their comments to committee meetings.
But the disadvantage to the Board's current committee structure, said Cahalan, is that they hold the same discussions that are later repeated at full Board meetings and that there is a "perception that the Board uses committees to hold discussions out of the public eye."
Cahalan suggested instead holding monthly regular Board meetings and adding two special Board meetings, at least one dedicated to committee-type discussions.
"This will give us three meetings a month instead of four," Cahalan said, adding that conversations would not be duplicated, and Board Members would not necessarily be obligated to attend each of the special meetings.
"If this was a subject a Board Member had no interest in, they could skip it," said Cahalan. Meetings would still be recorded and broadcast for the public.
Cahalan also noted that the new configuration would free up Board Members' time, "freeing up five or six more hours to do more things like visit City Council meetings, or meet with their constituents."
"It changes the way we are doing things without necessarily changing the substance of what we are doing," he said. "Sometimes changing things just for the sake of changing things sometimes shakes things up a little bit, and that's not a bad idea."
Reaction to the idea was mixed.
Board Member Scott Phelps supported the idea, while Member Michelle Richardson Bailey was against the idea.
"I look at closing committees like closing schools," said Richardson Bailey, chair of the Facilities Committee.
She said her meetings are often packed, "and I don't see those same people at Council meetings. If we eliminate that process, it would mean just Board meetings where we are not allowed to dialogue back and forth with questions we are asked at that time." (State Brown Act laws prevent Board Members from responding directly with residents at full council meetings.)
Phelps noted that oftentimes, residents think that committees change or approve or vote on policies, which they do not do.
Board Member Elizabeth Pomeroy spoke in support of Board study sessions "that are specific to various issues."
"We get a lot of background information on issues at Committee meetings," said Pomeroy, "but only three of us are getting what that is" Shifting to study meetings would benefit all of the Board Members equally, Pomeroy added.
As the committee discussion was listed as an information item only, and came with no staff report, the full Board will consider the proposal again at a later date.
"To be continued," said Board President Lawrence Torres.


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It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mickey Allen has been selected as the July Employee of the Month for Pineland Farms. Mickey has been with our Maintenance Department since September 2006.
Mickey is a solid worker who shows up every day and does quality work. Mickey completes special projects and is always eager to help his fellow team members.


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Aim: To define the frequency of diabetic retinopathy course in type1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients with and depression; to study the relation between depression and diabetic retinopathy severity.
Materials and methods: One hundred and thirty-three T1DM patients aged 40.27±12.17 years (56 males and 77 females) without exacerbation of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases and verified mental disorders were included into the study. The duration of T1DM before the moment of inclusion into the study was 12.16±3.65 years. The hospital scale of anxiety and depression was used for detection of depression. The depression was estimated at indicators of 8-21 scores. Statistical processing of the material was performed using STATISTICA 6.0.
Results: For definition of frequency of development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with depression the study group was divided into subgroups: patients without diabetic retinopathy, patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and patients with diabetic preproliferative and proliferative retinopathy. In T1DM patients with depression the frequency of diabetic preproliferative and proliferative retinopathy was 55.5% and was significantly higher than in patients without depression (44.5% (x2=5.60; P=0.018). There were no differences among subgroups of patients with non-proliferative retinopathy and diabetic preproliferative and proliferative retinopathy (x2=2.81; P=0.094). For analysis of the frequency of laser coagulation execution there were singled out the following subgroups: T1DM patients with diabetic retinopathy without laser coagulation and with laser coagulation. In patients with depression the frequency of execution of retina laser coagulation is 70% that is higher to compare patients without depression (30%) (x2=3.90; P=0.048).
Conclusions: In T1DM and depression patients the frequency of diabetic retinopathy is higher to compare patients without depression.
The Netherlands
30 Apr - 04 May 2011
European Society of Endocrinology


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The week started out a little rough here in SoCal. No, there were no major earthquakes. Though there is some tectonic movement almost daily here, I just don't bother to notice if it's anything less than a 4.0. Yes, I've lived here that long. Anyway, our exciting Monday consisted of losing power in our neighborhood. I know that probably rates as a First World Problem for most people outside the USA, but you'd have thought the world was ending by the behavior of some of our neighbors.
And while very short term outages and brown outs are reasonably uncommon, even at the height of summer when everybody is cranking their ACs, we do have them. So I didn't think too much of it when the grid went down at about twenty 'till 5:00 Monday evening. Minorly annoyed because I was in the middle of watching a video on my computer, but not really concerned. It flickered on and off a couple times, then was back on solidly after about five minutes. La Di Da. Went back to my video. Had just finished it when hubby called to say he was on his way home from work. That's my cue to start dinner.
The chicken was in the oven broiler and the potatoes were in the microwave when the power went out again at 5:54pm. Even though we have a gas stove, the oven is controlled by the electronics as far as temperature and time, so down it went. No microwave, no lights, no working fridge either. No big deal. The electricity's not usually off that long. I activated the flashlight app on my iPhone so I could find the regular flashlight.
My husband had just pulled up in front of the house when the whole neighborhood went dark. He has an LED mini-light on his key chain and made his way to the front door with that. One thing people don't seem to really comprehend about Southern California is that, no matter what time of night, it's lit up like a Christmas tree decorating contest ALL THE TIME. There's a street light just in front of our house, plus we have a porch light and a bright security light over the garage/driveway. There's freakin' light everywhere. And you really notice when it's gone.
We puttered around awhile waiting for the electricity to come back on and listened to our neighbors on their patios calling all their friends to let them know about this latest bit of earth-shattering news. Being the middle of dinnertime on a weeknight did make it somewhat more annoying than usual, but the voices ranged from nonchalant laughing to paranoid panic so I found it an amusing bit of anthropological study. After about a half hour I pulled up the power company's website on my phone to check the status. They estimated it would be 9:00pm before power could be restored. Hubby and I debated cooking the entirety of dinner on the stove top, since we could light the burners with matches, but decided it was getting too late even for that. The partially cooked food went into the fridge (now just an ice box) and we went to the local burger joint.
Now, being medieval recreationists, we tend to have candles and lanterns all over the place. When we returned with the food, I retrieved one of the hurricane lamps from the fireplace mantel and set it on the kitchen table.
My husband and I ate and chatted by lamplight and didn't really think much about the power being out. Temperatures were mild so we weren't worried about the food in the fridge or sleeping without a heater. We've certainly camped in much less hospitable situations. About 9:00pm I checked the power company's website again and the repair estimate had been revised to midnight. Shrug. Hubby set his cell phone's alarm and we went to bed.
Normally I don't go to bed that early in the evening, but 1) I'd been having a bad couple of days because of body aches and a touch of insomnia and needed to lay down anyway, and 2) what the hell else was there to do? When I woke up a few hours later and couldn't get back to sleep, I trundled back down stairs and lit up the hurricane lamp again. The new estimate on the power company's website was 6:00am. Wow. The longest outage prior that I could remember was about seven hours. Of course, at the height of a summer heat wave, which made it even more memorable. Thank the gods for whoever invented battery-operated fans.
So here I am, in the middle of the night, no lights, no TV, no computer, the phone running low on power – what's a girl to do? Well, this one pulled out her favorite paper and her favorite fountain pen and let the imagination go. I sat there noodling on a couple of short stories as I listened to the sounds outside – nearly constant sirens, dogs barking, the couple down the street having their weekly argument, the boom box car that so loves to cruise through our residential neighborhood at 3:00 in the morning rattling our windows – and really enjoying the experience. There's something about putting actual pen to actual paper that just can't be duplicated with electronics. The paper's texture, the smell of the ink, the scratch-scritch of the nib as the words tumble out under the golden flicker of firelight. It sent me back to the early days of my writing – #2 pencil on notebook paper – when the process seemed so much more visceral and organic.
Don't get me wrong – I love my iMac with its Scrivener software and its instant research (read: Internet) access – but spending a few hours with pen and paper again really reminded me of why I started writing in the first place. It gives me a connection to the process I just can't get any other way, and I realized how much I missed it.
The power was out for a total of eighteen hours. One of the longest I've ever experienced. And while a number of my neighbors seemed to have had serious issues (judging by the sirens), it wasn't really a problem for me. My husband recently asked me if I would mind living in a mobile home if it meant we could get out of California. I told him I'd happily live in our tent for that reward (it's not like it would be really roughing it – see "Playing Dress Up" for an explanation). It would mean less computer and TV and energy saving light bulbs, and more pen and paper and hurricane lamps. But I think I could live with that.
© 2015 Cheri K. Endsley All Rights Reserved.


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Milligan set the new JHS standard with a time of 39.62 seconds. His effort also placed him 15th overall the best finish of any local athlete at the state finals.
Forest Park senior Noah Braunecker competed in both the Discus and Shot Put at the state finals. He finished 20th overall in the Discus with a throw of 143′ 4″. Braunecker also finished 21st in the Shot Put with toss of 49′ 2.5″ just shy of his personal best of 49′ 7″ he set at the 2014 Regional.
The only other county competitor at the state finals was Jasper sophomore Corbin Kaiser. Corbin finished 26th in the 800 Meter Run.


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Where the only rule to stitching is... you must first put the floss through the needle.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Prom Preview and A Question!
Now on to my question ~~~ What are these 'berries' at the bottom center of this pattern??
They're orange/brown/white. I can't think of anything that looks like this connected to Christmas.
I'll tell the truth here ~ I told my husband my picture had testicles. I've commented to a few people via email that my pattern had testicles ~ one said she was impressed I was doing an anatomically correct bird. Not quiet. And, I almost called this post 'Things with Testicles' but the boy about had a heart attack.
And on another totally unrelated thought ~ there should be a new sport introduced this summer at the Olympics ~~ Fly Herding. What is fly herding? When you shoo a fly out the window and slam the window shut thus leaving the fly to die a slow death between the screen and window. Come on admit it - you do the same thing.
Off to find dinner for hump day. Thinking cheeseburgers and tater tots. The boy is in a foul mood and his favorite food from childhood is tater tots.
Hope today find you smiling!
17 comments:
- jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...
Probably Walnuts but who knows! The Boy,,, he looks simply marvelous...and handsome too.
I love that Fly Herding idea,,,too funny.
The girls are in tonight for stitching so I best get that big ole table pulled out and dust off the chairs...
Be always in testies....woooooooops stitches
- April 18, 2012 at 6:23 PM
- paula said...
Is a Kumkwat a small orane fruit? Yeah, I think itis . . . I used to call kind in my classes cute little kumkwats and they had no idea what I was talking about.
- April 18, 2012 at 7:13 PM
- Natasha said...
Fly herding.. Yes I do it... I hate flies. They are vial insects.
The boy looks very handsome.
On to your WIP while it does look like a "pair" I am going to go with a Persimmon ?? They grow in the fall. We have them growing all aorund here on trees in my neighborhood. Maybe you can contact the designer and ask what those "balls" are LOL
Take care girl!!
- April 18, 2012 at 7:46 PM
- Denise said...
Just came across your blog and am now a follower...I love your stitching and your blog! D
- April 18, 2012 at 7:49 PM
- Angela Michaud-Mourer said...
Your son looks so handsome! We've been past proms for a while, so it's fun to see this picture. Can't wait to see the young lady in her finery.
And, thanks, now every time I see your lovely bird I'm going to think testicles.
Aside from thinking that I wondered peaches?
- April 18, 2012 at 8:36 PM
- Autumn said...
Gooseberries? Okay...that's just a little funny.hehe
- April 18, 2012 at 8:46 PM
- Veronica said...
LOL! Too funny, Denise. I can't think of what those berries are. Your description of fly herding sounds quite apt ^.^
- April 19, 2012 at 1:32 AM
- Cath said...
Maybe they're meant to be chestnuts ?
Who knows . Ask the designer ! lol.
It's looking lovely , whatever they are .
- April 19, 2012 at 4:55 AM
- Chris said...
You are so funny!!
- April 19, 2012 at 6:19 AM
- Mouse said...
hahahahah been giggling all night about your questions and I think they may be rose hips as they seem to be the right size and colour ...;)
and the boy looks really good in his suit can't wait to see him with his lady too :)
love mouse xxxxx
- April 19, 2012 at 6:20 AM
Your stitching is looking great but I've got no idea what the fruits are!
Your boy looks very smart and I hope he enjoys his tater tots!
I can't do fly herding because we don't have a screen just one window so lucky for me and them I just herd them out of the window!
- April 19, 2012 at 7:06 AM
- dulcinella said...
Your son looks very good in his tux. I wonder if the small things aren't just wmall oranges (clementines as we call them) It's the season for them:-)
- April 19, 2012 at 9:15 AM
- Deb said...
Testicles? ROFLOL I can just see the look on your husband's face. From the looks of them they look like cherries, but what place would cherries have in your piece? Either way, I like it.
- April 19, 2012 at 2:14 PM
- Linda said...
I don't know what they are, but what an absolutely gorgeous picture.
- April 19, 2012 at 5:55 PM
- Ranae said...
A very handsome young man you have there
I would say peaches, but my eye goes to the bird and the white flowers
- April 19, 2012 at 6:02 PM
- Teresa said...
Your son looks very handsome, can't wait to see what the girl's dress looks like.
Not sure what the berries are, I will leave it at that.
As for flies, my husband can shot one with a rubber band from across the room.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches
- April 20, 2012 at 10:48 AM
- Catherine said...
Yep...fly herding....been there, done that!
Your son looks handsome.
Still giggling about your berries!
- April 26, 2012 at 1:42 PM


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An Ode to Bananas
If you follow a plant-based diet, you have probably heard of a certain Youtube vegan celebrity who calls herself the "banana girl." Just browse Instagram vegan hashtags and you'll find that bananas seem to be a cornerstone of the high-carb vegan lifestyle. For years, I completely eschewed bananas as a boring, oddly-textured fruit that had… Continue reading An Ode to Bananas


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text:
Jeremiah 3 New International Version (NIV)
3 "If a man divorces his wife
Unfaithful Israel
6 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the Lord.
11 The Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north:
"'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord,
14 "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18 In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.
19 "I myself said,
"'How gladly would I treat you like my children
21 A cry is heard on the barren heights,
22 "Return, faithless people;
"Yes, we will come to you,
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Jeremiah 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.
2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?
5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
6 The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God.
22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.
23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.
24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.
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text:
With the tasks feature, you can keep a track of those minute errands or requests for the guests.
The task checklist is associated with each booking voucher. In the task checklist you can the following, from the voucher:
- Creating tasks for Add-ons
- Creating tasks for Payments
You can add payment notes as tasks. For example, request payment when bill crosses a certain amount.
Creating tasks for Special Instructions
Special Instructions are requests made by the guests. These instructions are included in the email voucher that is sent to the guest.
To add Special Instructions to the task list, simply type in the instructions and then click on the "Add to Tasks" icon next to it.
Creating tasks for Internal Notes
Internal notes are stored in each voucher and shared only with the staff. They are not sent to the guest in the voucher email as opposed to "Special Instructions", which are.
To add internal notes to the task list, click on the "+", enter your notes, and then click on the "Add to Tasks" icon next to it.
Keeping track of finished tasks
You can check off the tasks that have been completed, to easily identify pending tasks.
To do that, simply click on the checkbox next to the task and the text associated with the task will appear strikethrough.
Deleting Tasks
To completely delete the task from the list, simply click on the "Trash Can" icon next to the task.
The task will only get removed from the list and the Add-on, Payment Notes, Special Instruction or Internal Notes will continue to exist in the system.


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Gaetan Bong signs Brighton and Hove Albion extension
Gaetan Bong has signed a contract extension that keeps him at Brighton and Hove Albion till the end of 2018-19 season.
The left-back joined the Seagulls from Wigan in the summer of 2015 and played a role in the side securing promotion to the English top-flight.
Bong has played in 15 Premier League games for Chris Hughton's side and his impressive performance saw him rewarded with an extension.
Editors' Picks
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- Celebrate the return of the UEFA Champions League by joining the world's biggest digital wave!
- Champions League Power Rankings: Who will take Liverpool's crown in Lisbon?
I am delighted to announce i sign a new contract extension with @OfficialBHAFC #gaetanbong @premierleague pic.twitter.com/BzBTaPYWSb— Gaëtan Bong (@GaetanBong) February 27, 2018
"I'm very proud to sign a new contract with the club. I think we're doing well and I just try to bring my positivity to the team," Bong told club website.
"I'm happy here and I thank the club for the confidence they've shown in me. I will do everything I can to help the team stay in this league.
"Maybe it's harder to play when you only have a one-year deal or a couple of months left on your contract, but I never think like that because when I'm on the pitch, I just think about playing.
"When you have a longer deal for yourself and your family, of course it's a good thing, but if you're not good on the pitch, even if you have a long deal, football can change so quick.
"You just have to think about being good on the pitch and then everything else will come."
Brighton have had a superb season in the Premier League so far. The emphatic win over Swansea City over the weekend took them to 12th place in the top-flight log.
On Sunday, they face Arsenal at the Amex Stadium and Bong will be hoping to make his 16th league appearance - 19 in all competitions this term.


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I decided to reduce the size of this runner because it was too tempting for my grandaughter to pull.
Monthly Archives: September 2013
My garden space
The start of another upcycle
Upcycling with a splash of colour
A colourful day in Birmingham
A trip to The Library of Birmingham and The Rep led to a beautiful display of crafty colour.
Pillowcase edging
Happy Flower wall art
Really pleased with how this project has turned out. The pictures have brought more colour and joy into my living space.
Wall art inspiration
I have been inspired by the wall art feature in this month's Simply Crochet to create some art.
I have used my own pattern for the flower poppies and will include it in my next post.
Here's my progress so far…..


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- Misc
35+ Isometric Renders That Look Awesome
in Misc
35+ Isometric Renders That Look Awesome
Writen by Alexandru / Comments Off on 35+ Isometric Renders That Look Awesome
In video games, "isometric" refers to some form of parallel projection (commonly, the form of dimetric projection mistakenly referred to as "isometric") where the viewpoint is rotated slightly to reveal other facets of the game environment than are visible from a top-down perspective or side view, thereby producing a three-dimensional effect. The terms "3/4 perspective", "2.5D" and "pseudo-3D" are also commonly used.
With the advent of more powerful graphics systems, "isometric" projection is becoming less common, instead being replaced by perspective projection.
Some of these 35+ isometric renders will make you remember the first video games you played.
Author : Michiel van den Berg
Alexandru is the co-owner of TopDesignMag. "If it looks easy, it's hard. If it looks hard, it's impossible. If it looks impossible, it's due tomorrow. At 8 A.M."


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A video produced by The Lutetium Project, an outreach YouTube channel co-founded by Mathias Kasiulis, a PhD student at LPTMC, just won the 2017 edition of the Milton Van Dyke Award. This prize is awarded every year by the Division of Fluid Dynamics of the American Physical Society (APSDFD) during its annual meeting, to reward pictures and videos of current research in fluid dynamics.
The video itself displays an experiment that was carried out in the PMMH laboratory, at ESPCI, and was published in Physical Review Letters in early 2017. It shows a drop of a mixture of water and alcohol bursting into a myriad of smaller droplets when it is deposited onto a bath of sunflower oil. This bursting is a rather uncommon example of a hydrodynamical phenomenon caused by the interplay between evaporation and surface tension. The video itself is part of a larger collection called "Experiments in Music", a series of videos by The Lutetium Project that aims at showing the aesthetic value of research experiments, accompanying it with an original music composed by Julien Mazet, a student at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de la Ville de Paris.
You can find all the other videos by The Lutetium Project on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/TheLutetiumProject


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Newsletter: Press release vs blog post
NewzEngine.com – Anyone can write, but not everyone can write compelling, interesting content on a regular basis. So, when the commitment is made to the blank page, you want to get the most value out of your time (or the time of the person you may be paying to write your content). What is the best bang for your buck – a press release or a blog post?
The answer is simple. It can be both. You can start with the same idea, the same information, you just need to alter the style.
A blog post is conversational – it's like chatting to a friend about your topic. A press release is a formal statement – it's like a cover letter for a job application, you are out to capture and retain the attention of an audience who are unlikely to know you, who have many people competing for their attention, and for whom you want something very significant (in this case a professional writer or broadcaster to think your content is worthy of their time and effort).
This is a blog post, so the headline is informal. If it was a press release, the headline might be "Press releases and blog posts differ in style, not content".
The first sentence would change too, for example: "Effective content writing takes into account stylistic differences."
Of course, this isn't a press release because it isn't newsworthy. And that is another critical difference between these two content types. A blog post seeks to be informative, while a press release seeks to be newsworthy. The latter announces a new product, new survey, new appointment, new investment, new event, and so on.
If you are creating content for your business or organisation on a regular basis, then you will write many blogs, and only some of them will turn into press releases. And, when they do, you can send them out using NewzEngine.
Find out more about writing press releases check out '8 Steps to Writing an Effective Media Release' here.
Newsletter: Media release etiquette
NewzEngine Newsletter: It would not be appropriate in an office to shout at the person next to you, and it would be ineffective to whisper when you're on stage taking part in a panel discussion. When sending an email, 'all caps' are only to be used in extreme circumstances and using a smiley-faced emoji at the end of a sentence in which you've criticised the recipient is passive aggressive
The etiquette of office life is generally well understood, but what about when communicating with journalists via a media release, what's the etiquette for that? Here are a couple of quick thoughts.
While there are no hard and fast rules, in generally it's best to avoid jargon. Journalists are usually people who got into the profession because they love words, so try to avoid phrases that are overused and bit cringeworthy. The first time someone talked about "going forward" was probably OK, but it's safe to presume this term has now been overused. Ditto "best in breed", "window of opportunity"… anyway, you get the point.
The second is to think about the journalist's audience. It's kind of insulting if you don't. You want them to take an interest in what's happening in your world, so you should probably think a little bit about theirs.
At NewzEngine we have split our media distribution lists into sections for this very reason. There as 11 regional locations as well as 'National news' and 12 sectors to choose from, as well as Māori media. Users can tick more than one box. For example, if your media release is about a tech event in Palmerston North taking place on a marae, it would be entirely appropriate to tick 'Manawatu', 'Technology' and 'Māori media'. If it was focussed on health applications and featured entrepreneurs in the speaking line-up then 'business' and 'health' would also be good boxes to tick.
NewzEngine also enables 'All NZ locations' and 'All Sectors'. These buttons should be ticked only in rare circumstances. They are like the equivalent of a megaphone at the office. Reserved for very big news. Before ticking those boxes, you need to ask yourself, is my news of interest to everyone from the reporter covering the environment round to the food editor? If not, then best leave those buttons alone.
NewzEngine Newsletter: The media release habit
You're posting to LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, with maybe a little Snapchat on the side. You've got the SEO keywords sorted, the Google adwords paid for. You're rocking the social, so why not go that next level and let the media know about what you do and why?
From the great newspaper mastheads that have migrated online, to exciting new publications borne in the digital age – the role of media remains as relevant today as when dear old Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and the age of mass communication was borne.
Providing independent media with information about your business or organisation can enable you to reach hundreds, thousands, and even millions of potential customers, investors, and stakeholders. While there is no guarantee your release, or the information it contains, will be published, it does make it more likely that your organisation will be taken into account when a journalist next writes about your sector or area of interest.
Getting into the habit of writing and distributing media releases provides several benefits, including:
- Your organisation is noticed by journalists covering your sector and area of interest.
- News releases provide fresh content for your website – on the home page, in the news section and repurposed as blogs posts.
- A release that is written with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in mind – but not to the detriment of readability – can promote your organisation in Google rankings.
- Writing a media release crystalises what you want to say about a new product, service, appointment, milestone, or event. Having distilled your message, you can re-use this content when reaching out to customers and stakeholders in other communications.
- As you begin to write more releases you will become better at identifying a news angle and deciding what is 'newsworthy' and what isn't.
Find out how to kickstart your next marketing communications activity by downloading NewzEngine's free whitepaper '8 steps to writing an effective media release NewzEngine's free whitepaper '8 steps to writing an effective media release'.
Newsletter: Q&A in communications
So, you've honed the pitch, that 3-4 sentence definition of what your company or organisation is, and what you stand for. But what happens after the press release or media announcement is sent out – if the journalist calls and wants to know more? What will they ask, and how will you respond beyond the pitch?
This is where the 'Q&A' comes into play in communications – when you think of all the questions that you might get asked and how you might answer them to create a news story. Of course, you may not think of every question, and the answers you could provide won't be word-for-word. But preparing a Q&A provides you with the best opportunity to provide the answers that will help inform the journalist's audience (and other important audiences too, such as customers and investors).
At NewzEngine we believe in the saying 'eat your own dogfood' so here's the Q&A we've prepared for our platform.
What does your company do?
NewzEngine enables companies and organisations to create and send news releases to media.
Describe your customer today?
Our target audience is SMEs and Not-for-Profit groups where there is currently no dedicated communications resource. We also think people standing for public office would see this as a way to get their media announcement out to their local communities.
Who will your customers be in three years?
We are looking to export this public relations service to Australia, Pacific Islands, South East Asia and North America.
What is the primary problem you are solving?
Enabling organisations with no dedicated communications expertise to get their message out to a wider audience via a platform for distributing media announcements.
Why has no one solved it before?
News releases are a core part of traditional Public Relations' activities. As professional communications services are traditionally bespoke and high-touch, they can be expensive and therefore used primarily by larger and more well-resourced organisations.
Are you solving problems for your industry, for society, the world?
NewzEngine is providing a platform for new voices to be seen and heard in business, politics and other important sectors, by enabling a cost-effective way to reach credible media.
Who are your competitors?
We think we're quite unique in providing a transparent, cost-effective communications service that enables people with no public relations experience to create and send press releases to media in their chosen geographical area and/or sector.
What are the main reasons why people will use your product over a competitor?
It's the most cost-effective in terms of creating and sending press releases and it provides an extensive how-to guide to creating media announcements, which we don't believe currently exists in the same way on other sites.
Why did you start the company?
We were asked by people and organisations how to send out media releases – they had no idea where to begin, what to say and who to send it to.
Why are you uniquely qualified to start it?
NewzEngine is founded by Selwyn Manning and Sarah Putt, who between them have over 40 years media and communications' experience. Selwyn's career includes roles as a journalist, political press secretary and news media specialist. Sarah has worked as a journalist, public relations specialist and technology commentator.
NewzEngine Newsletter: The power of news aggregators
As a NewzEngine subscriber every release or speech you send via our platform is automatically distributed to some of the most powerful news aggregators in the world. We believe this access provides our customers with significant value. Here's a short Q&A about this service.
What do news aggregators do?
News aggregators collect and distribute information to tens of millions of subscribers globally.
Why do people subscribe to news aggregators?
To receive real-time data directly from its source. Subscribers may be active investors required to keep up with economic and social changes occurring in certain markets around the world. Or they may be members of the media interested in a particular sector and keen to receive as much information, from as many different sources, as possible.
Why are press releases of interest to people?
As the media itself becomes more fragmented, the value of raw data – that is, announcements made directly from companies and organisations – increases because people can no longer just rely on traditional information providers. This means that your message is delivered undiluted to potential customers, partners, investors and commentators.
What news aggregators will NewzEngine send my release to?
- MIL-OSI, New Zealand-based news publisher/syndicator. Then on to:
- DowJones Factiva, which has a global financial/business focus,
- LexisNexis, which sends to the global legal sector,
- Acquire Media/NewsCycle, whose clients are members of the New York and London stock exchanges,
- Contify, which sends to American aggregators GALE, NewsBank US, and also to Comtex news network, and Thomson Reuters,
- Knowledge Basket, which covers New Zealand tertiary education providers and libraries.
How come NewzEngine is able to send to these services?
NewzEngine's access to world-leading news aggregators is through a New Zealand-based syndicator, the MIL-OSI Network, which publishes over 35,000 global English language items per month via sites that include LiveNews (NZ), Foreign Affairs (Asia/Pacific/USA/EU), and NewsKitchen (EU/RU/Baltics).
NewzEngine Newsletter: 5 tips for brainstorming ideas
The concept of the genius is an incredibly compelling and romantic idea. So much talent invested in a single, solitary human being. But do you really think William Shakespeare came up with all those great lines himself? That Steve Jobs single-handedly built Apple?
Posterity has awarded them the credit, but Shakespeare wrote for the best actors of his day, and Jobs ran a company that attracted some of the smartest people in tech. Also, they both lived and worked in communities that at the time were experiencing an enormous surge in creativity – England during the Renaissance and the early days of Silicon Valley.
If you don't care who gets the credit, then getting into the habit of collectively coming up with new ideas can help propel your company's success. And this is particularly the case when it comes to content. Press release headlines, blog topics, subjects to write about. It shouldn't only be the person in charge of marketing who has come up with these.
Sure, the writing, editing, proofreading, and sign-off – someone needs to take ownership of the process. But the best ideas for topics and headlines can come out of a session where a group of people are sitting around shouting words at someone furiously writing them up on a white board.
Nothing too sacred, nothing too stupid, whatever comes to mind. Here are 5 things to make a brainstorming session worthwhile:
- Be clear about what you are brainstorming for. Just like anything in marketing and communications, the result is only as good as the brief. If that isn't clear, then you are wasting your time.
- Everyone comes prepared with a list of ideas, which has taken five minutes to compile (don't overthink it) to get the session started
- For face-to-face sessions have a whiteboard on hand and a scribe standing, marker at hand, ready to write up the ideas voiced in the room.
- There are no dumb ideas, so be respectful of everyone's contribution. But have a little fun too, because the best brainstorming sessions, like the best conversations, involve laughter.
- The optimum result is usually derived from a number of sources. You are probably onto a winning idea when no one can figure out who gets the credit for it.
Go forth and brainstorm!


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This August 5–7, prepare yourself for a cheesy musical odyssey the likes of which you'll be jazzed to hear about—culture: the word on cheese is partnering with Napa Valley winery Long Meadow Ranch to bring you Cheese Lands, your one-stop shop for cheesy treats at this year's Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park! If you're attending, stop on by and eat some cheese! If not, make these plates at home and stream the whole thing from your couch!
Cows eat a lot. And by a lot, I mean 28 pounds of hay each day. While there might not be quite that much cheese on our Hungry Like The Cow plate, these cheeses we've selected are sure to satisfy the hunger of Outside Lands concertgoers and cheese lovers alike. Cheeses and accompaniments from all over the country are featured on this plate for a well-rounded glimpse at some of the best cow's milk cheeses out there. If you're on the hunt for some quality eats after you catch Duran Duran's set, break from the crowd and stop by our Cheese Lands tent and give this plate of hearty cow's milk curds a try.
Pastorale Blend | Sartori | Plymouth, WI
First up is a cow's and sheep's milk cheese from family-owned Sartori Cheese, fresh from their first place finish in the Mixed Milk American Made / International style at the American Cheese Society Judging & Competition just this past weekend. The Wisconsin company locally sources their milk from other family-owned farms, whose average size is only 75 cows. Pastorale Blend's creamy paste has earthy overtones with a subtle sweetness, and a smoky finish thanks to its rind hand-dusted with smoked Spanish paprika.
Petit Crème | Marin French Cheese | Petaluma, CA
The Petit Crème from Marin French Cheese—a triple-cream cow's milk brie—is sure to make your mouth sing "Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo." Petit Crème has a melt-in-your-mouth creamy paste with distinctly earthy notes reminiscent of mushrooms, a salty bite, and potent aroma. The oldest continually operating creamery in the country, MFC is known for its tradition of sourcing its milk from local farmers.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar | Cellars at Jasper Hill | Greensboro Bend, VT
Two of Vermont's dairy industry powerhouses came together to collaborate on this cloth-wrapped cheddar cheese. Every three months, 60 wheels are crafted by the cheesemakers at Cabot and matured by the experts at the Cellars at Jasper Hill. Cabot Clothbound Cheddar must be aged for at least 10 months to achieve its smooth, dense, slightly brittle paste. Its caramel and butterscotch notes complement hints of vegetal flavor with a distinguishable tang.
This cow's milk collection comes with Friend in Cheeses Jam Co. Prickly Purple Heart Jam, Rustic Bakery Cranberry Pan Forte Crostini, and Effie's Homemade Ryecakes.
Hungry for more? Check out our full Cheese Lands menu here!


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Hilton Waikoloa Village Invites Couples To RSVP (Renew Sacred Vows In Paradise) With "I Do, Take Two" Experience
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii - As more couples decide to reaffirm their marriage and vow to vacation, families look for the perfect setting that appeals to all generations. As the gold standard for vow renewal and top five multigenerational travel destination (YouGov, 2016) - it's impossible not to be surrounded by love at one of "The World's Most Romantic Islands" (Travel + Leisure, 2015). Hilton Waikoloa Village calls to couples with an "I Do, Take Two" vow renewal experience to express their eternal ever-after with several ceremony options. These ceremony packages include everything from a wedded welcome, adjoining accomodations and authentic Hawaiian activities that are essential to ever-rising multigenerational travel, to the gifts of something old with Old-Hawaii venues; something new with a sanction of re-newal, and something blue with complimentary canal cruises sealed with exclusive service at reception options fit for Hawaiian royalty.
Hawaii's most famous love story, the Naupaka, adds to the romance of the couple's special occasion. According to ancient Hawaiian legend, two lovers were torn apart, turning the man into the mountain Naupaka and the woman into the Beach Naupaka. This story explains why the mysterious Naupaka flower blooms only in halves on the beach and mountains of the island. When the two flowers touch end-to-end to create one bloom the man and the woman are joined together once again, mirroring the rejoining of couples in their vow renewal ceremony. The blossom is scattered throughout the property in hopes of bringing luck to couples who join the flower halves.
At the Hale 'ike rooms at Palace Tower, families will find suites perfect for multigenerational travel, and a honeymoon ambiance that makes spouses feel as bonded as the day they first wed. A true House of Senses, Hale 'ike provides everything from an open-air atmosphere filled with buyant island breezes and delicate flora scents, to beautiful backdrops and elegant evening views of the Palace Tower fountain atrium.
Hilton Waikoloa Village sets the scene for a storybook sanction with venues surrounded by the romance of old Hawaii. Hale Aloha Chapel, Palace Gardens and Buddha Point curate new legends of love with intimate island-style ceremonies among Pacific vantage points and the soft applauds from guests and the clapping waves.
Couples board mahogony canal boats and cruise through Waikoloa's meandering waterway for tranquil transport among the resort and to explore the new horizons of their second sanction. Glowing in the bask of the Big Island sun and bubbling with thoughts of new beginnings, couples toast to "I Do, Take Two."
Well wishers relocate to a reception fit for Hawaiian royalty, where an indulgent Hawaiian feast of Polynesian delicacies such as kalua pig, fresh tropical fruits and unique island fare await. A selection of island-style soirees ranging from intimate to extravagant are available for couples and guests to enjoy the Ali'i treatment - sealing the ceremonies of island-inspired love stories.
For more information on Hilton Waikoloa Village's romance offerings, please inquire with Megan Vierra at email@example.com or visit http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/romance-overview.
For reservations, please call +1 808 886 1234 or visit the hotel's website on hilton.com.
About Hilton Waikoloa Village
The award-winning Hilton Waikoloa Village is a Pacific playground and alluring destination unto itself. The resort offers island hospitality with three towers, Makai a Lagoon Tower, Hale 'ike at Palace Tower and Ocean Tower, along with and beautiful vistas of Waiulua Bay. Amenities include three swimming pools; an ocean-fed snorkeling lagoon; waterfalls and waterways; locally inspired treatments at the Kohala Spa; the Dolphin Quest educational center; eight dining outlets; a Museum Walkway; the Club Keiki children's program; Legends of Hawaii Luau; an 18-hole seaside putting course and an expansive tennis complex. Hilton Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Resort are gateways to cultural immersion, engaging travelers in the area's rich history through such interactive cultural entertainment as hula and ukulele lessons and historic Petroglyph tours. Adventures within Waikoloa Beach Resort range from two championship golf courses to world-class shopping and activities at Queens' Marketplace and Kings' Shops. For more information about Hilton Waikoloa Village, visit www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com or call +1 808.886.1234.
About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has set the benchmark for hospitality around the world, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests' evolving needs. With 580 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties are located in the world's most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Begin your journey at www.hiltonhotels.com, and learn more by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/hhr and following Hilton Hotels & Resorts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Download Article Photos
Media Contact
Amanda Lewis
Zimmerman (For Hilton Waikoloa Village) +1 850 668 2222
Jana Beasley
The Zimmerman Agency (For Hilton Waikoloa Village) +1 850 668 2222


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PSERJ is an online journal which gains a foothold in Egypt and opens to the world. PSERJ is devoted to publishing high quality papers in the field of engineering and is published in English twice a year.
PSERJ is not limited to a specific aspect of Engineering but instead is devoted to a wide range of subfields. PSERJ publishes rigorous and original contributions in the disciplines of Civil, Architectural, Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering. Papers that cover experimental, theoretical, and/or computational Engineering aspects and contribute to the understanding of Engineering sciences or give an insight into Engineering practices and processes are welcomed.
PSERJ hopes that researchers, research scholars, academics, industrialists, and consultants would make use of this journal's publications for the development of Engineering sciences. Authors from all over the world are invited to submit their manuscripts for double-blind revision and possible publication in PSERJ. Original papers, review articles and short notes are welcomed.
The editors reserve the right to reject papers without sending them out for review.


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It is absolutely hammering it down outside and the sky is a uniform grey: uniform, not even 50 shades. This morning there were six or seven families in various types of tent pitched out on the large expanse of grass that makes up the middle of our little caravan park, the 5 roads, here in Alyth. It's just turned 13.45 and they're all gone. It won't be because they have to work tomorrow or get the kids to school because it's a public holiday and it's still the summer holidays from school. No, it's because of the rain. We've been here a week and it's rained every day at some point, even on Tuesday when the temperature peaked at 27 degrees, the hottest day of the year.
To be brutally honest, the weather doesn't bother us all that much, given where we live most of the time. But we do feel for all the people who spend their lives in Scotland or all those who visit our beautiful country. We've met 3 couples from the latter category here on this campsite and they have spoken with resignation about their visit. The first two stayed one night each on their respective tours, both couples sleeping in a wee tent next to their cars. Both had breakfast in those cars as the rain battered their flimsy accommodation to the ground. They both agreed that Scotland is immensely beautiful ……… if you can see it through the stair-rods. Brave faces were to the fore but we could see they were being sorely tested. God bless!
Mary's Mum is apoplectic about how awful the weather has been. If she can't get her sheets hung out on the drying-green then it is officially a state of emergency at her house. Given that she finds things to wash which others simply do not perceive, you can take it that she finds herself glued to her Tablet, examining the weather on a half-hourly basis and making advance plans for the next whites or coloureds wash with military precision. She soldiers on with admirable stoicism but we can see how the weather breaks her heart.
The rain has just gone up a further two levels of ferocity here and we are extremely thankful that the Magic Caravan continues to be 100% waterproof. I must admit that we did have some qualms about spending 6 weeks in our first-ever caravan after it has been sitting out at a storage site in Birkhill to the north-west of Dundee. But we have to say that it took no more than a rub down inside and out to restore it to presentable level and once hooked up to the mains we were delighted to find that everything still worked, lights, sockets, fridge, water-pump etc. I have given it a replacement fully-charged battery with new terminals and all is now well with the internal 12v system which should stay topped-up once I have attached the solar-power trickle charger I bought at Maplin's.
We arrived here a week ago today after an excellent 8 days in Tayport at Mary's brother's house where we looked after their amazing cat Zak while they holidayed down in the Lake District. We enjoyed ourselves on the other side of the River Tay from Dundee and the view back towards the city as we would drive along the coast road from the bridge to Tayport ranks as one of the best we have seen anywhere. Strange how you can travel all around but still be moved by the beauty of a place where you have spent the vast majority of your life. The only near-equivalent I could conjure up was the view of the St. Lawrence River from the Olympic Stadium in Montreal but even then the Tay with the two hills of Dundee in the background wins hands down. Stunning!
Catching up with the family has taken up most of our time since our return to Scotland. We started with two nights at Scott's flat in Falkirk after we left Mike and Het's in Kendal, that being the final stage of our journey home. There then followed 1 night at Mary's Mum's (luxury!) then meeting up with George and family for lunch, tea with Greg and Karen in Montrose and a brief stop-off at Gavin's in Arbroath on our way back to Tayport. We actually went to see where Karen works, a popular stately home near Montrose called The House of Dun and, after a cup of tea at Karen's café, Greg took us around the ornate gardens which were really beautiful. I think we'll be going back to visit the interior at some point next month.
Out of the blue we found ourselves invited to a wedding reception at the famous Invercarse hotel in Dundee following a conversation between Lady Burton and the new groom, her ex-French Teacher Brian Gould. We had an enjoyable evening dancing both modern and Scottish and we caught up with uncle Gerard who was in attendance along with a smattering of old Dundee teachers.
I did the driving that night, mainly because I'm being very good following a spate of high blood-sugar tests. The good news is that my full blood tests came back on Thursday and showed readings lower than last year and such as to cause no concern to the doctor. This was a great relief to both Mary and me and suggested I'm behaving myself (at last!).
On Friday we had my cousins Stef and Renée over for fish and chips in the awning and the weather was kind enough to at least not rain while we were actually eating! They will be reciprocating this evening with dinner at their house in Blairgowrie where we will also get a chance to catch up with their lovely children Ricky and Teresa, both adults and doing well. Yesterday Mary went off in the car – strange, that sounds like she exploded! – to meet with some old school chums in Dundee and three hours later I took the bus to Dundee to meet up with George, Ben, Gavin and Arry to go swimming at the Olympia pool where Scott used to be a lifeguard. I had a wonderful time with our grandchildren, splashing around, getting zoomed around the Rapids, buffeted by the Wave machine and enjoying the thrills (or should that be terror?) of sliding down the green and red flumes. I think I found them fun but maybe my heart thought different!
I've firmed up several details for the next few weeks. Next Friday we're off up the mountains as we always do in early August. Not Lady Burton of course, as the "Munroamers" as we call ourselves is strictly male-only and includes only me and my 4 sons. Unfortunately only three can come with me this year, Greg being the odd-man-out as it's harvest time on the Estate where he works and he's needed there. I've booked a big static deluxe caravan near Comrie for our accommodation and we'll be within spitting distance of Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin and Ben Chonzie which are our three target mountains for 2016. On Monday, Mary and I are off up north to visit brother Joe & wife Mo at their house on the banks of Loch Carron. This is becoming an annual pilgrimage and we never fail to have a great time catching up. A small libation may even be taken!
We'll stay there until Thursday morning then drive back to Dundee for one night before heading to Powburn in Northern England for the annual get-together of Mary's family at the scout camp. This year, for the first time, we're going to be taking grandson Ben with us as he's nearly 5 and will be starting school a week later. But instead of coming home on the Sunday as usual, we're driving back over to Kendal to help Mike and Het celebrate their joint 60ths! Ben will be there too and I'm sure we'll have a ball. When we get back to the Magic Caravan on the Monday, we may just have a rest!
Aunt Ellen called two days ago to inform us that uncle Peter (Dad's wee brother) had passed away in Cardiff at the age of 80 after being ill for a while. I have fond memories of Peter grabbing me around the waist and lifting me up to the ceiling in Grandma's house in Leeds when I was a wee boy in the early 60s. Our thoughts are with his wife aunt Anne and her children. RIP uncle Peter.
Peter was the brother furthest to the left in the photo on page 73 of "Georgie", a photo of Dad's Mum and Dad and all of his siblings. I think uncle Terry and auntie Pat are the only two survivors of that splendid photo. The two memoirs continue to do well both at Waterstones and online at Amazon. I am busy having "Wee Georgie" reprinted yet again (200 more this time) and I suspect it won't be the last. I have a signing at Waterstones in Dundee on 13 August, my third such event and once again they asked me, not the other way around. Slowly but surely I am beginning to feel the urge to write again so you never know what I'll be telling you in the next post. Disappointingly, book 2 of Socrates the Snail remains frustratingly unillustrated and I can't seem to find a reliable artist anywhere who can meet a deadline. Do you know anyone who might do the job for me?
Well that's us up-to-date today. It hasn't actually stopped raining but at least Ginger baker is no longer practising his favourite drum-solo on the roof of the Magic Caravan. I leave you with Arry and Ben post-swim. Wonderful, but then again I AM their granddad!
Just at the last second before I posted this, I've received the first photo of Fred and Jeanette's new motorhome. I wish them all the possible joys in their new abode!