text:
Mandala Testimonials - Feedback from our Customers
Here's what some of our happy customers have to say about the Personal Mandala Starter Kit...
"One Suggestion"
I wanted to praise your e-book about mandalas. I just bought it 15 minutes ago, and I'm already so excited to make my first mandala!
I was not sure if mandalas would be too difficult for to make (being artistically challenged and all! lol). However, your e-book is totally reassuring and easy-to-follow.
One suggestion I would like to make is that you may want to mention how many pages the e-books are, on the advertisement page. This way, potential customers will see how great it is that over 100 pages of info and templates are only 35 dollars!
I'm going to suggest your e-book to my friends who are artsy. I'm sure at least some of them would love to to learn to make mandalas, too.
Your e-book really is a awesome.
And, it's such a bargain!
"The Mandala Kit Exceeds Expectations"
For a couple of years I've been working with mandalas. I started out coloring mandala coloring books which was fun, but after awhile I wanted to make my own designs.
Let me preface this in saying that I have absolutely no artistic ability whatsoever. I don't know how to draw, paint, etc. I got a digital mandala creation program which is really fun, but I wanted to do it myself by hand. I considered sand mandalas but figured since I'm not adept at crafts that I'd make more of a mess than a visually pleasing mandala. I was at a loss on how to proceed until I found your mandala ebook program.
Okay, I was skeptical about it to be honest. However, this program is as simple or complicated as I personally determine to make it. You can simply print of some of the templates and start working with them.
You can also work with the ebooks step by step to learn techniques to create some really beautiful designs.
What I really like about the mandala program is that it is understandable and doable from the perspective of a NON-artist type.
For what I receive in the program, I feel that you have severely under priced the books. Quite seriously, you could easily be selling this kit for $100. To pick it up for $35 is a steal.
You describe what the kit contains and offers exceptionally well on the website, so there are no surprises or disappointments.
I'm careful about recommending products to people because money is tight in these economic times for a lot of people.
The very nature of this kit with it's ability to be used over and over and over again for years and years is in and of itself a HUGE buying point.
My ONLY complaint is that right now the e-course isn't ready. You can BET that I'll be the first in line to order that the SECOND it becomes available, and I'll write another review at that time.
When I recommend something my criteria are:
In all of these areas the mandala kit EXCEEDS expectations. You get more than expected for your money, it's not complicated, and it's doggone FUN!
In fact, buyer beware, creating beautiful mandalas can be addictive. I blew off at least one day of work to stay home and just have FUN!
~ Dawn Moreno, Belen, New Mexico
"Even As An Artist, I Found It Useful"
I made my first mandala ever and I'm really happy with it...I gave it to my sweetheart for a Valentines present.
Drawing mandalas is kind of limitless…. There's no rules so you can just kind of go with it.
It's something you can do over and over again and not get tired of, because there's so much you can do with it. I'm planning to make tattoos with it!
The detailed template is the best part. The templates really help! It was easy to make a mandala...This was my first one but it was still really good. Even though it's not perfectly symmetrical, it looks symmetrical…
Using a compass and rulers and stuff is too much work. Compasses are hard to use and they make a hole in the middle of the paper. I don't know that I'd want to put that much effort into it. Maybe if I didn't know there was something better, but now that I know about this mandala kit, I wouldn't want to draw mandalas without it.
The point of it for me was that it was easy to do, and fun, peaceful and it wouldn't have been that way if I'd tried to do it by myself without the kit.
I totally got into it, once I started I couldn't put it down until I finished.
Even as an artist, I found this system totally useful... it was a really good creativity outlet, for ideas and designs and stuff.
It's easier than a painting or full-on drawing but more substantial than a doodle.
What I especially like about it is stress-relief... this has the potential to be really calming and relaxing. I would love it if I could be relieved of stress because school is so high-stress.
Now I've got bragging rights ... Look what I can do that you can do, or that you can't! Look how good I am! I'm proud of it; I think it's awesome, I like it! ; D
I'd recommend this kit to my friends because I found it is good for self-improvement and it's an excellent hobby.
I love this kit -- it's the best ever, everyone should buy this!
I think it would make a really great gift, because it's an inexpensive price and you get a lot of stuff in there, and it's a craft and crafts are always fun to do. I like gifts that you can do something with. It's practical.
Drawing mandalas this way definitely helped me focus, it required thought and attention... is that meditative when I had to focus and shut out other things?
Drawing mandalas was also a fresh way to express meaning into another form... I was able to take my feelings and turn it into a mandala, and transform my feelings into something visual. I like that... it says a lot.
I tell people this is fun and you should try out even if you can't draw. If you're making marks on a paper, then you're drawing, and if it looks good, that's even better...that's a bonus! That's what the templates do for you. They make it easy to make it look good.
I say go for it!
I'm not really into the spiritual part of it, but I think I would like to be. Mandalas would be good for me, because as an artist I think that's a perfect way to get into spiritual stuff.
Thanks for this!
~ Marissa Brown, University Student, Vernon, BC
A Child's Eye View
I like drawing mandalas. They're fun to do, and they're pretty.
~ Amelia C., Age 6, BC, Canada
" I'd Never Go Back To Drawing Mandalas Without The Kit"
The overall experience of using your mandala kit is really satisfying. I'm so pleased when I finish a mandala…. It's like accomplishment and it looks so cool, it's easy to do but when it's finished it looks really cool. It doesn't look like it should be that easy!
I'm all eager, I'm all excited when I'm about to draw a mandala, and afterward I'm accomplished and calm and relaxed.
It's like eating a really big meal, and then you're just so full and happy, that's the same thing with mandalas, you feel so satisfied...you're relaxed and you feel good. It's like a big feast.
I've done mandalas before I got this kit and it was just a pain. Doing mandalas without the kit sucks because you have to use protractors and stuff... they come out oval and they're gross and they're no fun. It shouldn't be about protractors and rulers because that's just no fun, it ruins it for me because you have to get into that thinking mode and work too hard at it and that defeats the purpose. The purpose is relaxation!
Before I had the kit, I didn't know there were any options, so I just made really bad, angry mandalas. I mean I still did them, but I kinda hated it. I used to try to do half and then photocopy and flip it. But it totally didn't work!
And now, it's indescribable. It's just so much better, I can't even explain it. There's no reason NOT to do it now, it's just like YEAH it's mandala time!
And I LOVE it, I loved the idea of mandalas before, I didn't even love the results, but I hated the process! Good in theory but not in practice. But now I love everything the whole process, the result, everything.
I'd never go back to drawing mandalas without the Personal Mandala Starter Kit.
I can't think of anything to compare it to, it's so unique.
There's so much more I can do with my mandalas now, because of the examples in the kit, there's so much you can do, I didn't know before.
I can make them with more detail, and more symmetrical, and more organized. It makes my mandalas the best they can be, to their full potential. Before, I had all these ideas, but I couldn't manifest it, because I didn't have the resources or the tools, but now what's in my head can go directly on the paper, without protractors and stuff.
And they're really pretty!
I get in the zone when I'm drawing mandalas, I get really focused and that's all I'm paying attention to. And usually I won't leave it until I'm done...
And with mandalas you can SEE spiritual progress, it's visual. You can see it. I think about them as spiritual, and I use them as spiritual tools. I've done one as a mantra, that was really fun.
When I don't think about anything else, it's kind of an escape, I don't have to deal with other things.
If I'm stressed I'll draw a mandala because it calms me right down. I don't have a lot of time on my hands, but I still do them.
One of the things I do is if I'm angry I do an angry mandala and then once I'm done you can tell it's an angry mandala and then it's gone, and I'm not angry anymore. It's like I kinda work it out while I'm doing the mandala. It helps me work things out, figure out why I'm angry, and then it takes the energy out of it and then I can do something with it.
And everyone loves them. And everyone thinks when I say I did them, that I just coloured them. People ask me where did you get those pictures to colour? but no, I drew them! Then they're like, oh wow! Are you sure? They kinda disbelieve that I could do that.
We have them on the freezer and everyone wants to come look at them.
I tell people if I can do it , you can do it, and I think that's true. It's not as hard as it looks!
It's easier to make beautiful mandalas than you think!
I'm super excited about it and it's fun and relaxing and I think anyone would enjoy this. It doesn't have to be spiritual, it can just be fun.
One of the reasons I do it is for self-care, because I know if I'm feeling bad, drawing a mandala will make me feel better. I know this for a fact!
Even thinking about drawing mandalas makes me feel good. Or looking at the ones I've already done, I go back into the feeling I had when I was drawing them.
It's definitely worth the money. What else could I buy for $35 - not much! What else could I buy that would give me such a great feeling?
Me and my mom have mandala colouring parties sometimes, we just sit and draw mandalas. I remember colouring as a little kid, that's the funnest thing ever.
This is like a sophisticated colouring books. We colour ones that I drew. We bonded, it was fun. We didn't really talk or anything, but we got to sit and colour together and we haven't done that since I was 2 or something.
~ Alanna DeRousie, Student, Winfield, BC
"Extremely Therapeutic"
I have been painting spiritual mandalas from a coloring book like a mad woman. Can't get enough. Now I want to create and paint a giant mandala on canvass. Your ebook will help immensely.
I would love to take your course.
I do find this process EXTREMELY therapeutic and as I advance and become more comfortable with the creative process, I might want to assist others.....cancer patients, little kids, etc. Thank you, again.
Most sincerely,
~ Linda Cole, USA
Return from Mandala Testimonials to Mandala Starter Kit


text:
Our Boards
Additionally to our Policy Crossover Team we have 3 Boards:
The Policy Board
The Scientific Board
The Youth Board
The expertise, professional knowledge and experience of the board members influence many areas of work of the Policy Crossover Center: Vienna - Europe.
Policy Board
RENATE BRauNER
Muna Duzdar
Muna Duzdar is State Secretary for Digitalization, Public Services and Diversity in Austria. Born in 1978, she studied law in Vienna and international law – law of the Arabic speaking world at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. She worked in Paris and Brussels. Since November 2012 she worked as independent lawyer in Vienna. Politically she held the positions as district council, local council and as Council of Constituent States before she was announced as State Secretary in May 2016.
ERICH FoGLAR
rudolf kaske
Christian Kern
Ferdinand Lacina is a politician of the social democratic party in Austria. Lacina studied at the University of International Trade in Vienna. 1964 he started to work at the Austrian Chamber of Labour in Vienna. This was followed by working as cabinet head of federal chancellor Bruno Kreisky, director general of GrioCredit and state secretary at the Federal Chancellery. Lacina was Federal Minister of Transport (1984), as well as Federal Minister of Finance from 1986 to 1995.
Christoph Leitl
Ulrike Lunacek
Hannes Swoboda was member of the European Parliament from 1996 to 2014. From 2012 to 2014 he was President of the S&D Group at European Parliament. Today he acts as president or advisor of many european and foreign-policy institutes, p.e. as President of Institute for International Peace (Vienna), Member of the board at Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue (Vienna), A Soul for Europe (Berlin), IFIMES - International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (Ljubljana) and CDRSEE – Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe, President of Sir Peter Ustinov Institute (Vienna), Architekturzentrum Wien (Vienna) and Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Vice-President of ÖTZ (Österreichisch Türkische Zusammenarbeit gemeinsam für Europa).
heinz zourek
Scientific Board
Adams Bodomo
miklós antal
Marina Fischer-Kowalski
edeltraud hanappi-egger
Scientific Consultant of the WIFO, having contributed primarily to internationally-oriented projects such as "WWWforEurope", to background studies for the EU Competitiveness Report and other contract-research for the European Commission (e.g. Internationalisation). Associate Researcher at the "KOF Swiss Economic Institute of the ETH Zurich". For many years, he was the Deputy Director of this institute and Head of the Industrial Economics Research Unit. Moreover, he was a Lecturer at the ETH Zurich for "Innovation economics and technology policy". Main research fields: Structural change; Internationalisation of economic activities; Innovation, technology diffusion and innovation policy.
Anton Pelinka
Youth Board
Philipp Brugner
EU Project Manager at ZSI – Centre for Social Innovation (Vienna)
Philipp holds a Master's degree in Russian Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science (Eastern European Politics) from the University of Vienna. Since 2016 he is actively involved in shaping the EU's relation with the Eastern Partnership countries on the level of education, professional development, youth dialogue and youth leadership as a Young European Ambassador for EU NEIGHBOURS EAST. Since 09/2018 Philipp receives further academic education in public policy economics at the Department for Continuing Education/University of Oxford. He is fluent in German, English and Russian.
maria Maltschnig
susanna ulinski
Christina Wieser is an Economist at the World Bank's Poverty and Inequality Global Practice. She covers issues related to poverty, inequality, and displacement in South Asia with a focus on Afghanistan. Previous to her job at the World Bank, Christina worked at the International Labour Organization conducting research on the labour markets and was a management consultant in the private sector. Christina studied Economics as well as Business Administration in Austria and the United States.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dr. Robert Maywood is a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports-related injuries. In particular, he specializes in injuries to the knee and shoulder. Dr. Maywood has worked with numerous professional and collegiate athletes and held positions of Associate Team Physician for the New England Patriots Football Club, the Boston Bruins Hockey Club and the Harvard University Intercollegiate Athletic Program while on the East Coast.
Aside from his sports medicine expertise, Dr. Maywood also has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of industrial injuries. In fact, his practice employs a workers' compensation coordinator, who is responsible to better coordinate care of injured workers, assist the doctor in writing ratable reports and keep the lines of communication open with the carrier, employer, employee and physician. Dr. Maywood has also worked on a consultant basis with employers on injury prevention and employee education.
Dr. Maywood relocated from the East Coast in late 1998, where he completed his sports medicine fellowship program at Harvard University and his residency at the University of Miami, after receiving his medical degree from
the University of California, San Francisco in 1989. Dr. Maywood's academic accomplishments include a long list of awards and honors ranging from Phi Beta Kappa to Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society to the Terrill Graduate School
Fellowship Award.
Now in San Diego, Dr. Maywood maintains his practice at RMM Orthopaedics and remains active in the athletic community as one of the team physicians for Point Loma High School.
Professional Experience
– 1994-1995, Harvard University Intercollegiate Athletic Program, Associate Team Physician
– 1994-1995, Boston Bruins Hockey Club, Associate Team Physician
– 1990-1994, Miami/Dade County High School Football Program, Team coverage and physical examinations
– 1987, Southern California Center of Sports Medicine, Research Assistant
– 1984, Pasadena Athletic Camp for Underprivileged Children, Associate Director
– 1984, University of Southern California/Los Angeles Olympics Committee
– 1994-1995, New England Patriots Football Club, Associate Team Physician
"Control of Inflammation"
Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review 4:8-15, 1996
Maywood, R.M., Boland, A.L.
"Simultaneous Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears: Case Report"
Journal of Knee Surgery 8:134-136, 1995
Maywood, R.M., Hechtman, K.S.
"Ligamentization of Patellar Tendon Autografts in Humans after ACL Reconstruction: Evaluation by
Electron Microscopy"
Orthopedic Transactions 17:1059, 1994
Maywood, R.M., Hechtman, K.S, Uribe, J.W., Enwemeda, C.L., Hurwitz, D.
"Evaluation of Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction using Magnetic
Resonance Imaging"
Orthopedic Transactions 17:224,1993
Maywood, R.M., Murphy, B.M., Hechtman, K.S, Uribe, J.W.
"Evaluation of Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction using Magnetic
Resonance Imaging"
American Journal of Sports Medicine 21:523-527, 1993
Maywood, R.M., Murphy, B.M., Hechtman, K.S, Uribe, J.W.
"Evaluation of Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction using Magnetic
Resonance Imaging"
Orthopedics Today 13:38, 1993
Maywood, R.M., Murphy, B.M., Hechtman, K.S, Uribe, J.W.
"Athletic Injuries to the knee: Evaluation Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging"
The Physician and Sports Medicine 16:81-95, 1988
Maywood, R.M., Jackson, D.W.
"Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Knee"
American Journal of Sports Medicine 16:29-38
Jackson, D.W., Jennings, L.D., Maywood, R.M. et al


text:
Allenberry Resort Historic Pennsylvania Wedding | Holly & Josh/ Nicole DuMond
Josh & Holly had one of the most memorable weddings I got to experience this season. Josh is from California, and Holly is from right here in PA, and SO many family and friends came to the beautiful historic Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, PA from near and far to celebrate Holly & Josh. I heard some west coast kids even got to experience fireflies (or lightning bugs as we sometimes call them) for the first time!
Holly & Josh met while working and interning for the Philadelphia Eagles and starting dating in 2014. During a 30th birthday celebration with both families present, Josh popped the question to Holly in a private room at the Marriott in Philadelphia that overlooks city hall and much of the city of Philadelphia. "There was a rose with the card and the inside read, 'You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Are you ready to spend a lifetime of happiness together?'. I looked down and there Josh was on one knee with a ring - and of course, he asked me to marry him."
Holly planned the most beautiful and special ceremony & reception outdoor under a beautiful old tree on the grounds of Allenberry Resort. It was a hot and humid summer Pennsylvania day at the end of June, but it was absolutely beautiful. The heat didn't stop all of the guests from having a wonderful time celebrating and creating amazing memories that they will surely cherish for the rest of their lives. Congratulations Holly & Josh!
Vendor Info:
Venue: Allenberry Resort | Boiling Springs, PA
Wedding Gown: Renaissance Bridal | York PA
Bridesmaid Gowns: Atom Attire | Etsy
Florist: The Woodland Florist |
Baker: About Weddings | Camp Hill, PA
Videographer: Carden's Film
Second Shooter: Dianna Nicole Photography
Nicole DuMond is a wedding & portrait photographer based in the rolling hills of Stillwater, Pennsylvania, specializing in outdoorsy weddings for joy filled couples. Sound like you? Contact Nicole to reserve your wedding date by heading on over to the Contact page.


text:
The winner is number 5, Lisa! Thank you to everyone who entered, it was fun and I will definitely do it again.
Summer is soooooo close. The kids can't get to sleep because it is "too bright and too exciting", there are only two more days of school left, the kittens are running free in the barn, my studio/kids' playroom is almost done being dry walled, and the donkeys are finally losing their winter coats!
With all of the rain we have had, the gardens have been well watered, to say the least. If we get a few more days of sun everything will be lush. The lettuce is looking great and the peas have started to flower. We are also closely watching the wild cherry trees in our hedge row so that we can get the fruit before the birds do.
We may not have much early spring produce this year but we will be making up for it come August and September. We have watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydews, squashes of many types, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet corn (which I CANNOT wait for!!!) and much more! Stay tuned for updates on availability.


text:
Come create with us! We will be making a new ballet with audience input during the Lane Arts Council's First Friday ArtWalk from 5:30 - 8pm. The final work will be performed at 8pm. Come early to help create, and feel free to come and go as you please.
Location: Broadway Commerce Center Building - Lobby (corner of Broadway and Willamette)
Antonio Anacan's dance photography images will be up in the lobby for the event and the entire month of August.
This is a FREE event!
Many thanks to our sponsor AGRARIAN ALES! They will be providing free samples of their beer to the participating audience!


text:
The Paradox of Finding Motivation Through Fear
UMass Amherst research informs a New York Times article. Read more.
2016 Award for Outstanding Leadership: Mark L. Miller
Professor Miller's research focuses on radiation dose and risk assessment; radiation measurement and sampling techniques and procedure development; design and implementation of environmental and personnel radiation monitoring programs; emergency planning and response; transportation and disposal of radioactive waste; computer programming as required for data management and analysis; radiation safety training and public speaking; and as […]
2016 Award for Outstanding Leadership: Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information (SARI)
Website: http://radiationeffects.org In 2013, in response to the harm caused by the misinformation propagated regarding radiation effects in Fukushima, following the initiative of Dr. Bobby Scott of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, a group of about 20 scientists formed a new group known as Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information (SARI) with the following Charter and Mission: […]
Finding a New 'Sweet Spot' for Improving Cancer Risk Assessment
UMass Amherst environmental toxicologist, with others, proposes to optimize public health. Read more.
Linear No-Threshold Model and Standards for Protection Against Radiation; Notice of Docketing and Request for Comment
This Proposed Rule document was issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
2015 Award for Outstanding Leadership: Douglas Boreham
DR. DOUGLAS BOREHAM currently holds positions as Professor and Division Head of Medical Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (Sept 2012-Present) and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences at McMaster University (2000-Present). He is also Principal Scientist and Manager of the Integration Department at Bruce […]


text:
I moved back to North Melbourne so I could be a ten-minute walk away from work. A ten-minute walk away from the city. I knew I'd done the right thing, however, when I received an email stating that I was a ten-minute walk away from a beer-tasting panel. On a Tuesday night.
Tuesday-night-sessions were once a regular occurrence, especially between 2004 and 2008 in London, although in saying that, every-night-sessions were pretty common back then.
These days, Tuesdays are generally reserved for backing dishlickers at Horsham and watching re-runs of Cops. Well it's not quite that bad, but things have definitely changed in the past five years…
The purpose of the evening was to try out three bespoke beers created by Boatrocker for the 2013 Melbourne Festival in order to help decide which beer will be sold at the Foxtel Festival Hub.
Held at the offices of design company, Bluebottle (who are creating the Festival Hub) the night kicked off with punters being offered either an Alpha Queen or a Smash!, showcasing a couple of Boatrocker's regular line up (the Hop Bomb being their other standard offering).
Even though it was predominantly a room full of strangers, conversation flowed [cheese alert] as smoothly as the beer being poured by Matt and Tim, who told us that 50 litre pilot batches of each style had been brewed for the occasion.
Initially there was some indecision as to which beer to vote for, but once told that Boatrocker's year-round beers will also be available at the festival, many of the panel decided to go with their absolute favourite of the trio, rather than the one they thought would appeal to the masses.
To cap off the night, everyone took away a six-pack of Alpha Queen/Smash! and, naturally, some beer nuts from the catering company supplying the festival.
As to which styles were on offer and which one got the nod on the night, we'll just have to wait until Melbourne Festival makes an announcement at the end of the week…
The last of our US-based articles takes us a lazy 900km from Ukiah to Redondo Beach in Los Angeles. First up was San Francisco, where we stayed in a dive of a motel, complete with a mulleted and moustached freak who spent much of his time peering into peoples' rooms and carrying a circular saw around. We didn't let this deter us however, venturing out of our room to check out what the city has to offer, including the view from Corona Heights Park and of course, The Golden Gate Bridge.
We drove on to Santa Barbara, calling in at The Brewhouse on our first night for an Elephant Seal XX IPA, which seemed more than appropriate after copping our first sighting of the creatures earlier in the day. The next night we hit up another brewpub, the Santa Barbara Brewing Company for a couple of beers with dinner. It ended up being a home-wrecker of a night, but if my memory serves me correctly, the Double IPA went down the best.
Our time in Los Angeles couldn't have started any better – our friends Laura and Matt meeting us at Hermosa Beach and taking us for our first beer in LA at the Hermosa Beach Yacht Club, which is the only bar that I've come across that advertises its staff's working hours to punters… Later it was on to Naja's Place, where they have 88 beers on tap. We sampled nearby Strand Brewing Company's Atticus IPA, before finally getting hold of the much sought-after Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company.
The next day saw a 50km round-trip on bicycle from Redondo Beach to Santa Monica Pier, a journey that made us question the bad rap that LA generally gets from other travellers. We also went to West Hollywood to visit some famous rock bars, including the Rainbow Bar and Grill, Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go. The Doors had been the house band at The Whisky in 1966 and the evening was made even more poignant with a minute's silence for keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who had sadly passed away that day.
Luckily, there was still time for more craft beer after all of this and we caught up with Sarah Bennett on our last night in the US. Sarah writes about beer, music, art and local culture for various publications, such as the Long Beach Post and more recently, Beer Paper LA, co-founded by her boyfriend earlier this year.
Sarah picked us up in Redondo Beach and we drove to The Bruery Tasting Room in Orange County – a classy set up where you can try their wide variety of beers by the glass or by pre-set and custom flight sheets. We went with the Hop-Forward Flight, consisting of: Grant is Pale, Mischief, Loakal Red, Imperial Loakal Red and Humulus Lager. The Bruery offers three levels of membership, each of which give punters access to limited edition beers, discounts, merchandise and invitations to various events.
Next up was Sarah's hometown of Long Beach and a trip to Beachwood Brewing & BBQ. Along with the tremendous pulled-pork sandwiches, we tried their Hops of Brixton ESB and The Falcon West Coast India Pale Ale. Sarah went with Noble Ale Works' Naughty Sauce – a blonde coffee milk stout served on nitro-draught. I knew there were blonde stouts out there, but this was the first time I'd ever seen or tasted one.
The night was a great way to end our month in the US and Sarah's willingness to drive two complete strangers well over 100km for the sake of craft beer was just another demonstration of how close-knit the community is. The fact that I saw this collaborative approach demonstrated in every country that I visited over the (almost) twelve month trip makes the lure of joining the craft beer industry even more attractive…
We severely underestimated how long it was going to take to drive from Seattle to Los Angeles and therefore decided to do the 450km stretch from Arcata to San Francisco without making any stops apart from coffee and lunch. Things were going to plan, until I spotted a sign on the side of Highway 101 for the Ukiah Brewing Company…
My mate held the driving responsibilities, but he agreed to call in for a look, even if it meant we'd lose a bit of time and he wouldn't be able to consume as many beers as he would like to.
UBC was established in 2000 and holds the distinction of being the first certified organic brewpub and the second certified organic restaurant in the USA. We caught up with Head Brewer, and fellow metalhead, Scott Jones who told us that he learned his craft from the former Brew Master, who was with UBC until 2009. The brewpub is located in the Marks Building in the centre of Ukiah and footage of Scott's band, Autonomist playing at the historic venue can be found here.
Scott also spent some time under the tutelage of Hubert Germain-Robin from nearby Germain-Robin Brandy and it's easy to spot this influence when he talks about his preference for brewing traditional 1800s styles of beer. Scott also mentioned that he likes to challenge the palate of the loyal locals by making minor adjustments to each batch and is more than impressed by their ability to pick these changes up.
Scott mentioned that he has brewed eighteen styles at UBC and we were lucky enough to sample two of those while we were there – the Willits Wit, a wheat/ale hybrid brewed with orange peel and coriander, and the Lunar Harvest Ale.
All of UBC's beers are bottled by hand, or hand-canned in an old 1980s single seamer. We took a six-pack of their Pilsner Ukiah away with us and Scott assured us that it is the only hand-canned organic beer in the USA.
UBC may not be distributing outside of Ukiah at the moment, but two full cans have made their way back to Australia with us. Collectors' items in the future, no doubt…
We spent a couple of days in Vancouver, checking out the city and chilling out at Kitsilano Beach, literally a stone's throw from our mate's place. We also caught up with my mate Jay, another Taswegian that I went to high school with. We met at Steamworks Brew Pub and tried their Empress IPA, Nut Brown Ale and Mocha Porter, not to mention a cracking salmon burger…
Our very knowledgeable waiter told us that Steamworks was established in 1995 and is the only steam-generated brewery in Canada. They have recently started bottling their Pilsner and Pale Ale and these should be available throughout British Columbia shortly. They also have a range of 650mL seasonals, including a Saison, Hefeweizen, Oatmeal Stout and Wheat Ale.
The next day we took a bus to Seattle, finding out on the way that the fifth Seattle Beer Week was just kicking off. We went to the final venue for opening day, The Pine Box and got stuck into a couple of Breakaway Nitro IPAs by the American Brewing Company, who are based in Edmonds. We followed up with another local beer, this time Fremont Brewing's Northwest Barley Wine, before heading off into the night.
Other highlights from Seattle included having our first pickleback (a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle brine) and the EMP Museum, which houses brilliant Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana exhibitions, a 55-strong guitar gallery and a huge sculpture containing over 500 instruments. We also experienced the best atmosphere in the MLS, with the Seattle Sounders beating the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0.
We hired a car after the match and commenced our drive south to Portland, calling in at the Jimi Hendrix memorial on the way. I never imagined that I would visit the site, so it was great to get the chance to pay my respects to the great man.
Our arrival into Portland ended up being quite late, but luckily we walked into the Portland Hawthorne Hostel about thirty seconds before the phone rang and therefore managed to jag the last bed (and a mattress on the floor).
A short walk from the hostel placed us on SE Stark Street with a handful of bars to choose from. The pick of the night was Bonfire Lounge and the Sweet Heat from local Burnside Brewing Company. This Wheat Ale contains apricot puree and Jamaican Scotch Bonnet peppers, giving it a nice kick.
We set off reasonably early the next morning, calling in at Voodoo Doughnut as we left Portland. Almost everyone we met had insisted that we go there, so we had to see what all the fuss was about. I have to admit that I'm not usually a fan of these sickly creations and the Bacon Maple Bar doughnut was pretty hard to stomach at that time of day, but the Diablos Rex (complete with vanilla pentagram) and the Old Dirty Bastard were pretty handy!
Crater Lake was our next stop and even though it took a lot longer to get there than we expected, it was well worth the wait. We spent a good hour and a half there before driving another 40km to a campsite near Union Creek Resort. We stopped at the resort to grab dinner before setting up our tent and thought we'd walked onto a movie set – the ambulances and inconsolable people rushing about didn't exactly set our minds at ease before a night camping in the woods…
The next morning started off on a much brighter note – scoring a couple of free coffees from Dutch Bros. Coffee, just metres from where the company had started in Grants Pass, due to having weird accents. Buoyed by this stroke of luck, we continued south into California, before finally hitting Highway 101 just outside Crecent City. Naturally, we had Social Distortion's song of the same name blaring at the time.
The rest of the day consisted of checking out the biggest trees we've ever come across in the various Redwood State and National Parks of northern California, scoping out some wild elk and driving along some great coastal roads. We also drove through a tree around eight times to make the $5 entrance fee worthwhile, although we did get to see some emus for free, which must count for something…
We decided to stay just outside Arcata for the night and our now refined craft beer research methods uncovered the Redwood Curtain Brewing Company not far from the centre of town. It would have been rude to not head there for an after-dinner beer and we made it just in time to sample their Cascadian Dark Ale before last call. Unfortunately, our accents didn't work this time and we had to pay for the beers – still, it was a pretty good way to finish off a decent day…
There has been plenty going on since the last post in mid-April, so much so that unfortunately there hasn't been any time to document it.
From Medellin we took the 16-hour bus to Santa Marta – my last overnight journey in South America. A quick cab ride transferred us to Taganga, where we stayed for close to a week, including spending a night in a hammock at Cabo San Juan in Parque Tayrona – definitely worth visiting if you're ever in the area.
Another (shorter) bus ride took us to Cartagena and similarly, our six nights there included a night in a hammock – this time on Playa Blanca. This popular beach on Isla Baru can be reached by boat, but we took the cheaper option of local bus > ferry > motorbike. It probably took twice as long, but was around a quarter of the cost and the local bus passes through a market in quite a poor part of Cartagena that you wouldn't normally see.
I'd travelled 24,000km in South America by road, train and boat, so taking my first flight in 6 months was quite a strange experience. I flew from Cartagena to Fort Lauderdale and then onto Dallas/Fort Worth, spending a night in nearby Irving before taking a $1 Megabus to Austin the next day. If taking the plane was weird enough, being surrounded by freeways and fast food joints definitely took a few days to get used to.
A mate from back home (and Crafty Ramblings co-creator) joined me in Austin in order to travel together for the last five weeks of my trip – possibly why the posts have dried up of late…
We spent a couple of days checking out the city's nightlife before hitting up Austin Psych Fest. We spent three days camping at the Carson Creek Ranch and met people from all walks of life who love psychedelic rock, some who'd travelled three days to be there.
We managed to get hold of some great craft beer either side of the festival, generally heading to the bars to the east of Interstate 35 to get away from the (mostly) trashy bars downtown. Included in the local brews we sampled were beers from Austin Beerworks (served in a can), Hops & Grain Brewing and Live Oak Brewing Company. We also tried three year round beers from Real Ale Brewing Company out of Blanco, Texas and a Black IPA by the Alaskan Brewing Company, who are based in Juneau.
Next up was our first trip to New York and plenty of decisions to be made on what to see over six days. Highlights include the High Line in the lower west side of Manhattan, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck (for great views of Central Park and the Empire State Building) and the (free) Staten Island Ferry. I also caught the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig at Terminal 5 on the Saturday night. They'd played at Psych Fest a week earlier, but my memory was a little hazy.
From a craft beer perspective, I can't go past the Blind Tiger Ale House in the West Village, where they have approximately 30 different beers on tap and (according to their website) over 50 bottled beers – to be honest, I didn't even consider any of these due to the options available on draught. Standout brews were the Founders Brewing Porter (well-needed after aimlessly wandering the streets at 2am) and the Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout.
From NYC, it was on to Vancouver to catch up with another mate from Tasmania. Our first full day started off with grand plans of checking out the main sights around the city, however as is so often the case, these plans were scratched around 40 minutes later when we walked on to Granville Island and saw Granville Island Brewing. We promptly signed up for the next tour, where we found out that the brewery opened in 1984 and that their regular beers can be found across Canada.
We were also told that whilst the company was bought out around three years ago, they still brew 1,000L batches of their limited releases on site. These small batches can only be found in British Columbia and we were lucky enough to try the Cloak & Dagger Cascadian Dark Ale at the end of the tour. We also sampled two of their seasonals – the False Creek Raspberry Ale and the Ginja Ninja Ginger Beer. Not a bad way to start a day of sightseeing…
It was a busy month after leaving La Paz, an impending flight from Cartagena to the US on the 22nd of April for Austin Psych Fest forcing me to travel a lot quicker than usual. First up were a couple of days on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca – a place that I can't recommend enough. Other highlights include (the very obvious) Machu Picchu and Huacachina, an oasis in the middle of some huge sand dunes. My sand boarding left a lot to be desired, but the mental dune buggy ride was worth the $16.50 AUD alone.
Lima also surprised after some less than promising reviews, although an early morning email to cancel a microbrewery visit was pretty disappointing after two weeks without a craft beer (please disregard the fact that I'd been sick for a few days and really didn't need a beer at 8am).
A short stop in Mancora en route to Ecuador was followed by a couple of pretty ordinary bus trips before chilling out for a few days on the coast in Canoa. Quito was the next capital to surprise, as I'd heard that the only thing to do there was get robbed of your belongings. Some decent nightlife, a trip on the teleferico and the views from the basilica proved this to be simply hearsay.
Medellin was the next city of note and finally presented a chance to get hold of some craft beer after three out of four days on buses to get there.
3 Cordilleras has been operating for around four and a half years and is named after the three mountain ranges in Colombia (Cordillera Central, Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Occidental).
We were lucky enough to be in Medellin on the first Friday of the month, when 3 Cordilleras holds a rock concert at their brewery, along with a tour of their premises. They also stage regular concerts on the third Friday and last Thursday of each month, as well as tours every Thursday evening from 17:30-21:00. There is an entrance fee for each event, but it works out to be pretty good value as it includes a few beers.
We met with Isaac on arrival, who is now the Marketing Manager, but has held many roles at the brewery, including bottle-cleaner and translator for the first Brew Master, who was from the US. He told us that 3 Cordilleras is available in six different cities in Colombia and the brewery is currently producing around 32,000 litres per month, operating at around 50% capacity.
Isaac also mentioned that their marketing strategy is based around face-to-face interaction and social media, rather than through traditional media such as TV and radio. We spotted 3 Cordilleras in many places around Medellin during our five days there, including hostels, supermarkets and convenience stores, so it looks like it has been a pretty successful approach!
The brewery produces five regular beers and a seasonal, which goes by the name of 6.47 Especial, regardless of the style of beer – the colour of the label changes however, in an inventive way of getting around the registration fee for each new product. Each of the seasonal beers are characterised by an alcohol level of 6.47% and a Dark Strong Ale was on offer when we were in town. Past styles have included an IPA, English Sweet Stout and Belgian Saison.
Four out of their five regular beers are named after various ethnic groups in Colombia – Blanca (American Wheat Ale), Mulata (Amber Ale), Mestiza (APA) and Negra (Stout). The fifth beer is the Rosé, which includes strawberries, blueberries and cranberries in the brewing process.
This was the first time I had been to a gig at a microbrewery and the 3 Cordilleras Band were more than impressive, bashing out tunes like Nine Inch Nails' Closer, Blur's Song 2 and Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. The performance was definitely capped off though, with a face melting solo during a cover of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb. A great way to start to a weekend of debauchery in Medellin…


text:
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost
This is a short story that I wrote several years ago concerning many subjects that I find fascinating. Perhaps you might as well. Perhaps not. I humbly offer it to you though, either way.
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost
By Mike Vitale
"Oh Jesus," Edward says as he leans away from his wife and closer towards his passenger window, getting a better view of the protestor's primal volcanism. The crowd outside just noticed his limousine and begins to ooze from the sidewalk, into the roadway, blocking his driver's path. Edward's eyes languidly survey the crowd of activists as he shakes his head in disbelief and rests his nose on the cold glass for a moment. His view of the estrangement outside is gradually lost as his passenger-side window fogs up from the warm air of his breath, pulsing against his chilled view of the world outside.
The soft and eloquent leather of Edward's seat squeaks and crackles as he sits back.
His wife, Lauren, breaks the silence with a soft sympathetic click of her tongue. She says, "People are equally as fickle as they are thankful Edward, especially when new ideas challenge the beliefs they were raised on."
Their driver slowly parts the ocean of protestors with their brightly painted signs, chanting, "Life is sacred, death should be respected." The limousine eventually settles in front of an elegant architectural tower of steel and glass—the epicenter of the crowd's disdain: Cosgrove Industries.
Lauren leans in towards her husband and says, "Perhaps faith is like that foggy window of yours," kissing him on the lips, and then fading back towards her seat with his chin resting on her delicate fingertips, "and science… science will allow those people outside the opportunity to get their nose off of the glass and clear away the condensation that obscures their view." She slowly draws her hand back and adjusts the geometry of her head so that she is staring up, squarely into Edward's eyes. She smiles.
Edward does his best to return the smile, but his efforts more closely resemble a guy yanking his cheeks up towards his eyes. He looks down at his feet.
Lauren can't help but giggle from his effort and says, "Are you smiling or wincing?
"That was supposed to be a smile." Edward fidgets with the handle on his door.
"Could have fooled me, Clint Eastwood."
Edward chuckles.
"Ah, there he is."
He smiles, this time, of the far more authentic variety.
"I feel like a magician—I just made that furrow in your brow…" she claps her hands together and then pushes them apart from one another with a glitter of dancing fingers, and whispers, "disappear," with a slight lean towards macabre entertainer, as if she has yet another trick up her sleeve for her make-believe audience.
They both laugh for a moment.
The driver exits the vehicle and sluggishly elbows his way around the protestors surrounding the limousine in order to open the door for Mr. Cosgrove.
As Edward's passenger door opens the furious clatter and chants of the protesters pierce the silent steel bubble they had a moment ago. He puts his right hand on the roof of the car to exit, looks back at his wife and shouts over the noise, "Today is the day. I can feel it."
Lauren wags her head in understanding. "Tell mother I said hello and give your father my love," hollering over the commotion from outside.
Edward leans in to kiss his wife goodbye and silently mouths the words I love you before stepping into the street.
The intonations from the protesters echo off the face of his huge downtown skyscraper, housing 37 separate business endeavors first began by Mr. Edward J. Cosgrove nearly 44 years ago at the tender age of 18. Nearly all of his business efforts have reshaped human existence. His inventions, discoveries, and philanthropy have allowed the blind the basic human right of reading their personal mail or gaping in awe from a vanilla-orange sunset; the deaf to listen to an ocean and appreciate the numerous works of Beethoven; the paralyzed the ability to walk to the bathroom and relieve themselves, not to mention the necessary clean up afterwards, in privacy.
He pushes forward, trailblazing with his arms and elbows amongst the hysteria surrounding his enormous place of business and slowly works his way forward, away from the limousine behind him. Peripherally he hears a break from the two-tone chant emanating from all around the tight sphincter-like pathway of human beings. He hears a man. He hears his violent words strike him like the sound of colliding steel amongst the everyday noise of commuter traffic: "You're a fucking monster." He feels something wet hit his face. Cosgrove digs through his jacket pocket, stops, and then wipes away the sulfur-hued snot from his face with a handkerchief, resuming his efforts towards the front entrance of Cosgrove Industries without looking back.
The opulent ground floor of his building houses a lovely fountain with holographic images projecting onto a dancing wall of water. Structural pillars double as towering, concise, digital screens, projecting relaxing computer-animated simulacrum to the visitor: flowers, ponds, stone gardens, flowing water, aquariums. Edward waves to the on-duty security guard. He calls the elevator. Going up. Edward feels close to home.
110th floor. The elevator chimes; the doors slide open. Edward takes a deep breath, exhales, smiles, and then moves forward saying, "Good morning, Mother."
"Good morning, Son. How's my baby doing?"
"Oh, better—now that I'm here."
"That's good, baby. That's wonderful. Don't let the troglodytes outside bother you. Today is the big day. Your father will be so proud. We should wake him."
"I agree, Mother." Edward points with his thumb like a hitchhiker. "I'm going to go grab a cup of coffee down the hall and we'll get started."
"Oh dear, I wish you wouldn't rely on coffee so much."
Edward walks briskly towards the break room, conceding to his mother's testament with a simple gesture: both hands, raised in front of him. "I know, I just like the way I think afterwards."
"I'll wait for you here," she says with a fine-have-it-your-way laugh.
After Edward pours himself his first cup of coffee, he turns away from the kitchenette and leans his body against the countertop. He takes a cautious sip and stares at the wall adorned with his various accomplishments: A Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from MIT, a Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Anthropology from Harvard University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, American Medical Writers Association Awards, an Inventor of the Year award from MIT, The Nation Medal of Technology, and honorary doctorate degrees from several major universities, amongst many others. Like his Mother and Father, both MIT graduates and scientists, he has focused his life on the pursuit of knowledge, and the betterment of humanity. Many of the exponential leaps in modern medicine and computer science all have Edward J. Cosgrove to thank for his contributions—both intellectual and financial. While still attending Harvard Medical School, Cosgrove sold his first business venture for $500,000 to Reed, Sterling, and Deerworth. He in turn used this capitol to finance his ideas and subsequent business ventures, eventually becoming a billionaire philanthropist. If he hasn't thought it up, he's most likely financed it.
His recent accolades have all stemmed from his research and breakthroughs using nanotechnology, focusing on the medical benefits of these devices. Edward's current financial and intellectual endeavors are centered on the mapping of the human brain, using advancements in nanotechnology and his subsequent development of artificial intelligence. He, as well as his mother and father, have worked diligently to answer questions regarding self-awareness.
Edward takes another sip of his coffee and saunters back into the main laboratory, hand in pocket. "So, how is father doing?"
She settles on a sighing, "Oh," a very low pitch emanating from the primal basement of doubt and worry, before continuing: "His vital signs are stable however I am especially worried about him today. He's been pretty unresponsive to most of my conversation this morning… I imagine he's just a bit nervous."
"To be honest, Mother, I'm a bit nervous."
"Oh, you needn't be dear. He's a strong man—this is why I love him. Everything will work out just as planned."
As Edward walks towards his father's medical quarters, he asks, "Is he still sleeping?"
"Yes, we should wake him."
Down the hall from the main laboratory, a frail Joseph Cosgrove rests comfortably on an assisted breathing device. Granted, there were the salad days without the bedpan, but on the other hand, there was a time in Joseph's youth when he used to relieve himself in an outhouse. He has seen the advent of the automobile. He's witnessed a human being escape the confines of Earth's gravity for the first time, conquer the math behind acquiring an orbit, and finally landing on the moon. He's gaped at the advent of nuclear energy. He and his colleagues were responsible for the first functioning quantum computer at MIT. He's discovered, first hand, the benefits of nanotechnology. And in his old age, he has witnessed the first unique artificial intelligence to display, at least what appears to be, human emotion.
Edward Cosgrove slowly runs his fingers through his dad's hair and whispers into his ear, "Good morning dad. How are you feeling this morning?"
Joseph groggily opens his eyes, lifting his volatile left hand to move the breathing apparatus from his mouth in order to speak. However, Edward gets there first and gently urges his father's erratic hand back to a resting position. Joseph smiles softly and says, "Hey Tiger, good morning.
"Today is the big day, dad. Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Edward. However, I'm wondering if you're prepared for this."
"Oh believe me, father, I can hardly contain my excitement! Think of the possibilities! Eventually, you're going to be able to run again! The subcontracted development of a full-body prosthesis for you has been completed and is in testing as we speak. We are continuing our efforts on the fully organic equivalent. After I am satisfied with their results on your new organic body, I will give the green light on testing.
Joseph's brow furrows suddenly during his son's excitement as he sighs and looks away. He says, "Son, I've been avoiding this conversation for far too long. We need to talk." Joseph takes a moment to gather him self before beginning what he knows to be an uncomfortable exchange of words. "Have you ever considered the spiritual implications behind what you are attempting?"
"What do you mean dad? Like whether or not God would approve?" He chuckles, "Dad you know that I've never been one to believe in century old cults—some omnipotent grandfather who observes my scientific trespasses from some ethereal cloud, passing judgment on what he views as my indiscretions. Besides, I don't need that anyway." Edward points emphatically towards his father's 110th floor window. "If I wanted or required anyone to pass judgment on my actions, I could simply visit the mayhem happening down stairs; I'm sure they would be more than happy to accommodate."
"Oh son, that's not what I mean." Joseph closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep and difficult breath, "I don't know where I am going—I don't know whether there is somewhere for me to go. I know that I am here right now, with you, but will I be when everything is complete?
Edward leans in to his father with deep sincerity, "Yes," he whispers in a breathy confidence, "absolutely! I know that everything will be just as it is now."
"How do you know that for you sure, Edward? Despite all of the research, despite all of your hard work, despite all of your success, as scientists, we can only make conjectures when it comes to the unique nature of self-awareness. You have mapped the human brain, and we think we understand the biochemistry behind its function: but, does that really lend towards any further understanding of the human soul?" Joseph leans on those last two words with all the urgency and passion he can muster—his words, then, like a dead body, slowly lose their buoyancy, sinking into the dark depths of a calm lake of silence. He tries to make eye contact with Edward. "Here you are talking to me right now—I want you to ask me a question."
Intrigued by Joseph's request, Edward leans in slightly. "What question would you like me to ask you, dad?"
This pleases Joseph, "I want you to ask me whether I'm alive."
Edward pauses, "Are you alive?"
"No," Joseph whispers, delicately.
Edward scoffs, "That's obviously a lie, pop."
Joseph's face brightens with the opportunity of debate, grinning as he continues with his argument. "How do you know whether my answer is truth or lie, son? You don't—it's impossible for you to. Any form of intelligence is capable of a lie, whether organic or artificial. Think back on the early forms of artificial intelligence we created together using algorithms. Our Talkbot application would learn to answer questions and hold conversations based off of all previous interaction with humans—much like how a human child learns to communicate. Now, you tell me: if you were to ask Talkbot if it were alive, what would its answer have been?"
Edward prods his tongue into the lower-right molars of his mouth. He knows his father has a good point, and this is no comfort to their situation. Having sufficiently milked his ego of its pride like a morning cow, Edward replies, "Talkbot would say, 'Yes, I'm alive'."
"Exactly, son—and perhaps it was. Who are we to know? We are not Talkbot. There is no certainty to science; we only pretend to lay a great foundation for our collective knowledge on some strange beast of lie we call fact: a well-thought-out and tested thesis arrived at, scientifically, and widely accepted as nothing short of actual. And sadly, the more intelligent we become as a species, conversely, the more inclined are we to prejudice and ignorance, completely unawares of all our transgressions in those departments; we conduct ourselves with far more certainty than we deserve, even through our rigid observational methods and standards. We're blinded by our own scientific dogma and satisfied enough to elevate ourselves to the complexities and chaos of creation if not just to satiate our curiosity about its elegance… and deep mystery."
Edward stares off at some indistinguishable point on a wall while Joseph continues. "Look, son. I know that I am. I have experiences that are solely my own by interpretation. I know that I think and perceive in a manner that is unique unto me, and my brain. However, do any of us really know for certain how this equates to the soul? My brain, in all its subtle intricacies, creates I, and I am my brain. Can the two be separated from one another? Despite your research and findings, I am not so sure."
Edward is becoming noticeably flustered and Joseph pauses.
"Well, what about Mother?" Edward asks.
Joseph licks his parched and cracked lips and says, "Yes, what about your mother"—Joseph chuckles, "son you are an absolute marvel. I am so very proud of you. I need you to know that. Within our lifetime, your mother and I have created great many a thing, but you, by far, are the greatest of our creations. I remember the day you were born. Have I ever told you that story?"
Edward closes his eyes and shakes his head slowly from shoulder to shoulder.
Joseph continues, "If I remember correctly, your mother and I were at a party celebrating the completion of a processor we had been entrenched in for the past several months at MIT. I remember that we were both speaking with Richard Fulbright," Joseph's eyes gloss over with a sweet reminiscent glaze, "he was quite the character. He had such a vivid imagination and a wicked sense of humor. He was actually responsible for most of the databases compiled on human subjects in order to improve our artificial intelligence research—human experiences and so forth. At any rate, your mother and I were nearly in tears from some story that Richard was telling us when her water broke. I remember feeling like an absolute wreck as I rushed her to the hospital. It was in the wee hours of the morning, and your mother was a few weeks early. The doctor arrived in a posh tuxedo from a dinner party and didn't have enough time to get scrubbed up before you came popping out—you were always in a hurry." Joseph grins and can't help but laugh as he reaches the climax of his story. "No sooner did you burst out of your mother than did you urinate all over the good doctor." His laughter segues into a violent fit of coughing. Joseph regains his composure, smiles again up at his son, and does his best to clear his throat and continues with the story. "Anyway, the doctor says, 'Well, at least we know that works'."
Joseph puts his worn hand over his son's. "Mister, you were always destined to make a lasting impression."
Edward begins to cry and rests his head on his father's chest.
"Son, I need you to know that you weren't responsible for what happened to your mother. Complications are what they are. No one could have foreseen the health issues that arose from her condition after she gave birth. She lived a long and fruitful life and had the blessing of seeing you before she passed. She would be so absolutely proud of you had she the opportunity—I know this in my heart."
Joseph anchors his shaking hand on Edward's cheek, "You have done amazing things with Richard's database and research. She seems as real as the wife I knew and loved."
Joseph is suddenly overcome with a far more violent fit of coughing; his breathing becomes erratic and he loses consciousness. Edward tries to help his father with his breathing apparatus. The electrocardiogram suddenly jumps from a steady rhythmic pulse to an erratic and random set of V's along the screen. Edward pushes away the stool he was sitting on and quickly moves towards the computer equipment permeating the outskirts of his father's medical quarters with the composure of confidence.
"Mother, bring the servers online and begin the database transfer from father's hippocampus and frontal lobes. I need you to initiate a complete secondary brain scan. Make sure that everything we have is current in terms of content. Mother, do we have a compatible rhythm for defibrillation?"
"Data transfer and secondary brain scan initiated. Hold on, Joseph. Current readings suggest cardiopulmonary resuscitation."
Edward moves over to his father's bedside, crosses his hands over Joseph's chest and begins rapidly compressing for several minutes.
"That's good, Edward; I have what I need to begin defibrillation."
Joseph's frail muscles contract with each electrical pulse. After several attempts, the electrocardiogram moves from frequent and erratic V's, to a slow and wavy line.
"Data transfer and secondary brain scan complete. We have what we need, Edward."
"Excellent. It's 11:47 AM. I'm calling it. Go ahead and reboot the servers and let's see what we've got."
Several minutes pass before Mother begins to laugh hysterically.
"What is it, Mother?"
She continues to chuckle as she says, "Oh, it's your Father. He's always known how to make me laugh."
Edward sits back down on his stool and crosses his fingers together in the shape of a small temple, full of all his hopes, desires, and fears. He comes to rest his mouth on this fashioned temple made of his own two hands, takes and gives breath to its fleshy and unique walls, and speaks from its altar: "Daddy, are you there."
"Yes, Son."


text:
Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa
7 Nights from £2,519 per Person Including Flights
- Included:
- Flights & taxes
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Checked baggage
- ATOL protection
- In resort assistance & 24 hour contact centre
Striking and secluded, Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa boasts a desirable location on the edge of Muri Lagoon on the Capital of the Cook Islands. Sat beachfront in an area renowned for its coral reefs and palm-studded shores, the contemporary, tasteful resort provides the perfect opportunity to explore one of the smallest most remote corners of the globe.
Showcasing an idyllic setting, sophisticated style and stunning starry nights, this resort offers the ultimate in romantic escapes. Surrounded by a tranquil water garden, the Te Manava Spa is perfect for relaxation, enticing you to indulge with an array of a la carte treatment options and rejuvenating massages.
Each villa sits just metres from Muri Beach Lagoon, where you can test your skills at a variety of non-motorised water sports, such as snorkelling, paddle boarding and kayaking. Have a BBQ on your private patio at sunset, or head 15 minutes down the beach for the live entertainment at the Beach Hut in Pacific Resort Rarotonga.
Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa sits idyllically in the Cook Islands main territory, boasting a beautiful beachfront location overlooking the idyllic Muri Beach Lagoon, a two-kilometre stretch of white sandy beach with pretty islets and vivid coral reefs, surrounded by exotic jungle scenery. Rarotonga Island itself, is a tropical paradise of powdery beaches and vibrant rainforest, set amongst the backdrop of the Needle Mountain Peak, in the heart of the pacific ocean.
- Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa is a 15 minute drive from Rarotonga International Airport (RAR)
Te Manava Luxury Resort features 13 Villas & Suites, all featuring:
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Wi-Fi Access
- TV and DVD player
- iPod Docking Station
- Hairdryer
- Ceiling Fans
- Laundry Facilities
The resort's private Suites & Villas include:
- Pool Villa Suite – Tranquil villas with tropical surroundings, private courtyard with a plunge pool, kitchen, lounge area and an outdoor BBQ; sleeps up to two people
- Beachfront Villa Suite – Features a private plunge pool, direct access to the Muri Lagoon, gourmet kitchen, lounge area and outdoor BBQ facilities; sleeps up to two people
- Ultimate Pool Villas – Two-bedroom villas with a lounge area, outdoor BBQ in the courtyard and a private pool; sleeps up to four people
- Standard Pool Villa – Three-bedroom villa in a secluded location with tropical garden surroundings, private pool, two bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchen and a private courtyard; sleeps up to six people
- Ultimate Beachfront Villa – Available with one, two or three bedrooms, with access to Muri Lagoon, outdoor seating with sun loungers, private courtyard with BBQ facilities and a plunge pool, and self-catering facilities; sleeps up to four people (three-bedroom sleeps up to six people)
- Presidential Beachfront Villa – Luxurious villa with an open-plan living area, private courtyard, spacious bathroom with waterfall shower and bathtub, panoramic views of the beach, modern kitchen and two TVs; sleeps up to six people
All villas include complimentary use of kayaks, snorkelling equipment, beach towels and sun loungers
The villas have self-catering facilities for convenience and flexibility; there is also the option to take advantage of choosing from the 'Guest Services' menu which allows you to have prepared dishes, champagne, brunch hampers or BBQ packages delivered to your villa for an additional cost.
- Te Manava Spa
- Swimming pool
- Watersports including snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing
- Tours and excursions including whale watching and dive trips (additional cost)
- Hiking
- Cultural activities including coconut husking and basket weaving
Guests are also entitled to use the facilities at the nearby Pacific Resort Rarotonga, which is a 15 minute walk away.
- Kids Club – Available for children aged 6-12 years (children under six are welcome but must be supervised), this club offers a range of activities, games and crafts for children to enjoy during their stay; open 9.30am-3.30pm daily
Departure Dates & Prices
|Departure Dates
|Prices From
|7 Nights
|15 Sep - 30 Sep 19
|01 Oct - 31 Oct 19
|01 Nov - 30 Nov 19
|01 Dec - 31 Dec 19
|01 Jan - 31 Jan 20
|01 Feb - 14 Feb 20
|Departure Dates
|Prices From
|7 Nights
|15 Feb - 31 Mar 20
|01 Apr - 30 Apr 20
|01 May - 23 Jun 20
|24 Jun - 31 Jul 20
|01 Aug - 18 Aug 20
|19 Aug - 31 Oct 20
Prices correct as at 6pm on 14 Sep 2019. Please call for final price. Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a room. Other durations available - call for quote.
Flight Information
|Air New Zealand
|London Heathrow
Prices are based on flying from London Heathrow with Air New Zealand. Regional connecting flights are available as are different routings and stopovers. Your holiday can be tailored to your exact requirements, so please call our Travel Consultants for a quote.
Accommodation Information
|Board Basis
|Room Type
|Room Only
|Pool Villa Suite
|Accommodation Upgrades Per Person Per Night From
|Beachfront Villa Suite
|2 Bedroom Ultimate Pool Villa
|3 Bedroom Pool Villa
|Included Transfers
|Shared Minibus or Coach


text:
Most of the time scaly red and silver patches of skin caused by psoriasis flare up and then disappear. But in some cases sites where psoriasis occurs, the skin can be left at first white and then turn permanently darker after the psoriasis has gone, leaving skin looking dappled.
However a new study however, has uncovered the molecular roots of skin discoloration associated with psoriasis which could lead to a new treatment for pigmentation changes seen not only in psoriasis, but also in other conditions such as eczema and acne.[quote]Melanocytes, which are what give skin its colour, are present in healthy skin but increase during a psoriasis flare-up. When the flare-up subsides, the cells are pushed toward the surface, causing dark marks to appear.[/quote]
Researchers have discovered that for psoriasis sufferers, two immune system molecules called cytokines play a role in these pigmentation changes. These two molecules are over produced during a psoriasis flare up, leading for the sufferer's immune system to effectively attack its own skin cells.
Scientists at the Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology at Rockefeller University in New York found that the over productions of the two cytokines were suppressing the pigment production of patients' melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour.[quote]What they scientists believe happens is that during the psoriasis flare up the production of skin pigment is suppressed, hence why immediate post flare up skin often has white spots in it. Then when the 'danger' of the flare up has passed, the two cytokines that were suppressing the pigment production slow down and the body then floods the site with the built up pigment producing melanocytes, making the skin quickly turn from white to dark, resulting in permanent dark spots or dapples.[/quote]
New drugs to suppress the production of the two cytokines could help reducing permanent discolouration after psoriasis flare ups as well as for other skin conditions which can leave permanent skin discolouration such as acne and eczema.


text:
May 24th, 2015
I was lucky enough to cross pass with this awesome couple at last years Zingerman's Cornman Farms Wedding Show earlier this year and blessed to have them hire me as their wedding photographer. Check out their intimate wedding at Zingerman's Events on Fourth.
Venue: Zingerman's Events on Fourth
Catering: Zingerman's Catering
Cakes: Zingerman's Bakehouse
Floral/Decorations: Designs That Matter


text:
All About Elk Hunting
Elk hunting is extremely rewarding but like many other types of game, the idea involves dedication and attention. A proper hunt is most beneficial prepped with not only a passion for the sport however the proper amount of organizing and wisdom. The two most usual ways to hunt with regard to elk are stalking and spotting.
No one claimed elk hunting was effortless; they'll detect irregularities inside their habitats and can rapidly disappear in seconds after you have stalked it for several hours. As a component of your planning, be sure you know the hunting laws and regulations in your state. Every state has different legal guidelines; many hunters that travel are unaware of this and will become fined. This is nobody's responsibility but yours. You can read more elk stalking guidelines over the internet before going for hunting.
Proper scouting is vital when big game finest. Explore the area prior to the season, hunt varmints in your community if you get bored to tears. You'll have to recognize this area because hunts will have the most action throughout dawn and dusk, it's going to be hard to see and track the elk. Investigate for food sources. Be on the lookout for tracks, droppings, and hair. These clues can be a trackers dream and will certainly identify which food deposits the elk are utilizing. Arrive at your hunting area ahead of when the elk meander in your location. Set up your position to be able to avoid any unnatural sounds startle to elk.


text:
With the release of Windows Azure Caching (Preview) and there is already Windows Azure Shared Cache there are lots of question what these cache are and how to use them. I decide to write this article to provide the differences between them so users can understand it properly.
To start, the main difference between Windows Azure Cache(Preview) and Windows Azure Share Cache is that Windows Azure Caching (Preview) is configured in within your role specific Virtual Machines. You have ability to either share a % of virtual machine resources from your existing Virtual Machine (co-located model) to use a Cache or just dedicate a full Virtual Machine as dedicated cache (Dedicated model). While Windows Azure Shared Cache is a dedicated cloud cache service configured for your application in cloud. From there you can actually understand how the implementation would differ in between two.
Windows Azure Cache (Dedicated and Co-located) Preview:
Windows Azure Cache (Preview) has the following advantages:
- Pay no premium for caching. You pay only for the compute resources that host the cache.
- Eliminates cache quotas and throttling.
- Offers greater control and isolation.
- Improved performance.
- Automatically sizes caches when roles are scaled in or out. Effectively scales the memory that is available for caching up or down when role instances are added or removed.
- Provides full-fidelity development time debugging.
- Supports the memcache protocol.
This image explains Windows Azure Dedicated Cache (Preview):
This image explains Windows Azure Co-Located Cache (Preview):
How to Start Sample: https://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/net/how-to-guides/cache/
FAQ: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh914142
When you are using Windows Azure Cache (Dedicated and Co-located Cache) you must get the references using NuGet as described below (This is released as preview):
Using the NuGet package has to following advantages:
- Cleaner experience with richer tooling.
-- Customers don't need to hunt down assemblies in the file system.
- Assemblies are automatically updated and pushed out by the author
- Web.config transforms/modifications are added to configure a client to access the cache
Windows Azure Shared Cache:
Windows Azure Shared Caching enables you to easily provision a cache in the cloud, to be used from any applications or services that could benefit from caching. Here is an overview of Overview of Windows Azure Shared Caching: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh697519
This image explains Windows Azure Shared Cache:
How to get started SAmple: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/gg278346.aspx
When you are using Windows Azure Shared Cache then you should use references located below:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Azure\.NET SDK\2012-06\ref\
FAQ: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh697522
Keyword: Windows Azure, Cache, Dedicated, Co-located, Caching


text:
June 7, 2014, Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel, North Carolina, USA
To the family — Guy, to all of you — to the friends, President Clinton, Oprah, my mother Cicely Tyson, Ambassador Young — let me just share something with you: My mother, Marian Robinson, never cares about anything I do. But when Dr. Maya Angelou passed, she said, "You're going, aren't you?" I said, "Well, Mom, I'm not really sure, I have to check with my schedule' she said "You are going. Right?" I said "Well, I'm gonna get back to you, I have to check with the people, figure it out." I came back and said that I was scheduled to go and she said "That's good. Now I'm happy."
It is such a profound honor — truly a proud honor — to be here today on behalf of myself and my husband as we celebrate one of the greatest spirits our world has ever known, our dear friend Dr. Maya Angelou. In the Book of Psalms it reads, "I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."
What a perfect description of Maya Angelou and the gift she gave to her family and all who loved her. She taught us that we are each wonderfully made, intricately woven and put on this earth for purpose far greater than we could ever imagine.
When I think of Maya Angelou I think of the affirming power of her words. The first time I read "Phenomenal Woman" I was struck by how she celebrated black women's beauty like no one had ever dared to before. Our curves, our stride, our strength, our grace. Her words were clever, and sassy. They were powerful and sexual and boastful. And in that one singular poem, Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of black women but she also graced us with an anthem for all women, a call for all of us to embrace our God-given beauty.
And oh, how desperately black girls needed that message. As a young woman I needed that message. As a child, my first doll was Malibu Barbie — that was the standard for perfection. That was what the world told me to aspire to.
But then I discovered Maya Angelou, and her words lifted me right out of my own little head. Her message was very simple: She told us that our worth had nothing to do with what the world might say. Instead she said, "Each of us comes form the creator trailing wisps of glory." She reminded us that we must each find our own voice, decide our own value, and then announce it to the world with all the pride and joy that is our birthright as members of the human race.
Dr. Angelou's words sustained me on every step of my journey. Through lonely moments in ivy-covered classrooms and colorless skyscrapers. Through blissful moments mothering two splendid baby girls. Through long years on the campaign trail where at times my very womanhood was dissected and questioned. For me, that was the power of Maya Angelou's words — words so powerful that they carried a little black girl from the South Side of Chicago all the way to the White House.
And today as First Lady whenever the term "authentic" is used to describe me I take it as a tremendous compliment because I know that I am following in the footsteps of great women like Maya Angelou. But really, I am just a beginner. I am baby authentic.
Maya Angelou, now she was the original. She was the master. For at a time when there were such stifling constraints on how black women could exist in the world, she serenely disregarded all the rules with fiercely passionate unapologetic self. She was comfortable in every inch of her gloriously brown skin.
But for Dr. Angelou her own transition was never enough. You see, she didn't just want to be phenomenal herself. She wanted us all to be phenomenal right alongside her.
So that's what she did throughout her lifetime. She gathered so many of us under her wing. I wish I was a daughter. But I was right under that wing — sharing her wisdom, her genius and her boundless love.
I first came into her presence in 2008, when she spoke at a campaign rally here in North Carolina. At that point she was in a wheelchair, hooked up to an oxygen tank to help her breathe. But let me tell you, she rolled up like she owned the place. She took the stage as she always did — like she'd been born there. And I was so completely awed and overwhelmed by her presence I could barely concentrate on what she was saying to me.
But while I don't remember her exact words I do remember exactly how she made me feel.
She made me feel like I owned the place, too. She made me feel like I had been born on that stage right next to her. And I remember thinking to myself, "Maya Angelou knows who I am! And she is rooting for me! So now, I'm good. I can do this. I can do this."
And that's really true for us all. Because in so many ways Maya Angelou knew us. She knew our hope, our pain, our ambition, our fear, our anger, our shame. And she assured us that in spite of it all — in fact, because of it all — we were good. And in doing so, she paved the way for me, and Oprah and so many others just to be our good ol' black women selves. She showed us that eventually, if we stayed true to who we are, then the world would embrace us.
And she did this not just for black women but for all women. For all human beings. She taught us all that it is okay to be your regular old self, whatever that is. Your poor self, your broken self, your brilliant, bold, phenomenal self. That was Maya Angelou's reach.
She touched me, she touched you, she touched all of you she touched people all across the globe — including a young white woman from Kansas who named her daughter after Maya and raised her son to be the first black President of the United States.
So when I heard that Dr. Angelou had passed, I felt a deep sense of loss. I also felt a profound sense of peace — because there is no question that Maya Angelou will always be with us. Because there was something truly divine about Maya. I know that now as always, she is right where she belongs.
May her memory be a blessing to us all.
Thank you. God bless.
This is the poem Michelle Obama refers to. From poetryfoundation.org
Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.


text:
Whether you just need a few furniture pieces moved or a full-service relocation, Gray Glove Moving & Storange can provide any local moving service necessary for a seamless relocation. Gray Glove Delivery is one of the few moving companies located in the Amarillo area with the expertise to provide specialized and high end relocation services. Our clients can customize their move to utilize as many or few of Gray Glove Delivery's service options as they please.
Furniture disassembly and assembly
Piano moving
Hoisting and craning
Custom crating
Empty box pick up
Full, fragile, or partial
Full Service Storage
Overnight Storage
Moving Supplies
What to Expect When You Move Locally with Gray Glove Moving & Storage.
From your move planning survey to the crew you meet on move day, you will see in every step of your local move that Olympia Moving & Storage is not an ordinary moving company.
Step 1: Start planning with a free moving consultation and estimate
Start by requesting a free, no obligation moving estimate. Every move is unique, and understanding your needs is key to a successful relocation. A move adviser will meet with you via phone, to thoroughly discuss your plans, needs, and inventory in order to provide you with an accurate pricing estimate.
Step 2: Communicate with your dedicated move coordinator and online portal
When you're ready to choose Gray Glove Moving & Storage, reach out to our move coordinator to reserve your dates. Personalized communication is necessary for good service. Our team is well equipped to answer questions and guide preparations for move day.
Step 3: Prepare to move with our complimentary resources
Get packing and order moving boxes with delivery right to your door. Need to make a change or last minute packing help? Reach out to our team and they will make sure you're covered.
Step 4: Your professional moving crew arrives
The moment you meet your team of Gray Glove Moving & Storage, you will be at ease knowing a team of friendly professionals will take care of your every need. The move will begin with a discussion with you to review the day's plan.
Step 5: Home and furniture protection
Our crew will use home protection kits to keep floors and walls damage-free, and shrink or pad-wrap furniture to keep your belongings in perfect condition. Your crew leader is trained to make decisions to complete your move efficiently and with care, including any necessary furniture disassembly, maneuvering, or hoisting.
Step 6: Welcome home
Our crew will place your furniture exactly where you want it in your new home. They will complete a walk through with you at the conclusion of the move to ensure satisfaction with the service.
Step 6: How did we do?
We will be in touch after the move to make sure you were happy with the service, tie up any loose ends, and ask if there's anything we can improve.


text:
I grew a dahlia for the first time, and that counts towards the New Year's resolution about growing more flowers. It's a Wednesday and I had an ice cream sundae for dessert, and it certainly seems like that too ought to count for something. As should wearing white eyelet anything, as should drinking frozen lattes, which I have gotten very good at indeed.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
I am a Partner in the Disputes & Litigation team, with over 25 years' experience of acting for individuals and businesses. I am a specialist in both Family Law and Disputes & Litigation and provide practical and cost-effective advice to resolve your disputes.
In Family Law the preferred approach is conciliatory rather than aggressive – I will help you resolve issues around your children, your home and your finances in a constructive and non-confrontational way.
Sometimes however a more robust approach is required and on those occasions I will help you with often-complex Court proceedings.
In the same way, when helping with other types of disputes and legal problems, my expertise is in being sufficiently versatile to take either a conciliatory approach or to take a more robust attitude – and to switch between the two to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
During our first discussion I will usually be able to answer the following three basic questions:
"Do I have a case?", "What are my options?" and "What will it cost?"
We will discuss what it is that you want to achieve and what kind of approach you would prefer to take. The risks and costs of those different approaches can be outlined, so that you can then make an informed choice about the course of action.
Having managed my own firm, I am conscious of the commercial demands on the business client and in some circumstances may encourage parties to consider mediation as it can deliver a much more cost-effective resolution for some commercial disputes. I will refer you to the mediation service best suited to your case and advise you along the way.
In disputes involving more complex types of work, with numerous possible outcomes at each stage, I am happy to discuss fees at each stage, so that you are in control of your legal fees and can make your own cost/benefit decisions.
Different problems need different solutions and whatever the nature of your legal dispute, whether personal or commercial, defendant or claimant, employer or employee, I can help you resolve it.
Call today on 01284 701131
or email email@example.com
Services for Business
- Commercial Disputes
- Debt collection
- Employment law
- Landlord and tenant dilapidation claims
Services for You
- Family Law
- Employment law
- Landlord and tenant disputes
- Personal injury
- Inheritance disputes
- Boundary disputes
Memberships & Accreditations
- Law Society Family Law Accreditation Scheme
- Law Society Lawyers for Your Business Scheme
- Resolution Family Lawyer
External Interests & Community Involvement
- Trustee and Treasurer of an active Village Association which fundraises for local charities.
- Trustee of "Support Squad", supporting the music-making and care of the singers in the Voice Squad, a National award-winning Youth Choir based in Bury St Edmunds.
I am supported by
Christine Clark
I joined Partridge & Wilson as a temp in 2004, before then being taken on as a secretary to Sonja and have worked for her ever since and joined Burnett Barker Solicitors in October of 2012 when we merged.
Since 2007, after cancer treatment, I have reduced my working week to just 4 days and within those days I assist Sonja in any way possible. I normally work until 2.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so will not be available after that time.
I am a very happy mother and grandmother which takes up most of my leisure time.


text:
The Brothers Story
The Brothers Story is set in the Great Frost of 1683-84, and tells the story of twin teenaged boys, Kit and Christy, who have grown up in poverty in their Essex village. Because Christy has been "simple" from birth, Kit has literally been his brother's keeper. But the hardships that come to their Essex village with the frost bring Kit to frustration and despair. He abandons Christy and makes his way to London, seeking to better himself. There he finds much to take his mind from thoughts of all he has left behind: a master who paints pictures, a sharp-tongued serving maid, and a frost fair upon the frozen Thames. When the time comes that he can no longer evade the problem of his brother, Kit must make a choice between returning to poverty-stricken village life or seizing a lucky chance to advance himself--unless he can find a third way. The novel includes much authentic detail, including a frank portrayal of teen sexuality during this period.


text:
Last night Chiglet and I went to a spectacular display in the Valley Gardens, in Harrogate. Part of the Harrogate International Festival (co-comissioned by the Yorkshire Festival) the Fire Garden was created by a French company Carabosse.
We were absolutely entranced! We got there at around 9pm and the fires were lit from around 9.15, and as dusk approached and the darkness encroached upon the remains of the daylight the fire installations seemed to brighten and intensify. (Yes, I know, rather arty-fart talk for Chiggs, but the whole magical experience affects you like that!)
I find fire rather mesmerising, and the mixture of large installations and many many small ones (like the flaming flowerpots lining the paths) was spectacular. The smell of incense combined with the scents of the Garden flowers, and with the heat of the flames and ethereal music it really did touch all the senses.
Cie Carabosse is also on this evening (Friday 24th of June) and tomorrow (25th of June) and I urge you to visit if you can. At £3 for adults and £1 for children our magical evening cost us a mere £4… as we say in Yorkshire, that, lad, is a reet bargain!


text:
Hey eveybody!
If you're wondering why there are no new posts lately - it's because I'm on a vacation :)
My State Exam was on 12 July, and seems like my writings on Jack London and Naturalism impressed somebody there, I guess I managed with the translations as well, cuz a week later I got a mail from my friend Ceko. He brought me the good news - I've got 6 (the Bulgarian equivalent of A)!
And I wasn't around to check the results myself, cuz right after the exam I started packing, and on 13th I got up at 5am, got on the train to Sofia, and from there on the bus to Poland (and a bonus stop at Prague - it was great to visit it again, even just for a while!)
I'm still out there, enjoying myself and having a great time :)
The net here's a bit slow, so I cant upload tons of photos right now, but if you want to see some - check me out on Facebook
See ya!!


text:
presented by Gail Sims
Video streaming cannot be accessed on this network. Please access the video from a different network. For assistance, please contact your organization's help desk or MedBridge Support at email@example.com.
This course is part of our CRRN® Prep-Program. Learn more about the full prep-program here: MedBridge CRRN® Prep-Program.
Effective coping strategies and stress management are essential survival skills for patients and their caregivers. The rehabilitation nurse must assess each individual's ability to cope with catastrophic changes, access resources to facilitate effective coping strategies, and evaluate the impact of accessing resources. The pathophysiology of the stress response, strategies theories of coping, adjustment and self-management, and stages of grief and loss will be reviewed. Strategies for stress reduction and positive coping in rehabilitation situations will be evaluated using the nursing process.
CRRN® is a registered trademark of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.
Gail Sims serves as a Patient Care Coordinator at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, CA. She served as the Director of Nursing at Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center in Vallejo, CA for 8 years. She has also been a nurse surveyor for the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the past 11 years. During the past thirty-nine years, nursing leadership and clinical management have been the main focus of her professional practice. She has been an Infection Control Nurse in long term and acute care settings on two separate occasions and served as adjunct faculty at two universities in their BSN programs. She has also served on the national board for the professional specialty organization of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses and has advocated for health care reform in Washington DC with the ARN Board on three annual Hill visits. She has presented rehabilitation nursing topics at ARN national conferences and annual symposiums throughout her career. She has contributed to three rehabilitation nursing textbooks as well as two professional nursing journals.
The first chapter will examine the physiology of the stress response. Ways in which people cope with stress during catastrophic illness and injury will also be discussed.
In this chapter, theories of coping, adjustment to change, and stages of grief and loss are explored as they relate to rehabilitation nursing. Various change theories will be explained using examples in clinical practice. Coping theories will be explored, as well as a brief overview of grief and loss as they help to clarify the relevance of the process patients navigate through on the road to recovery.
This chapter will outline methods to assess coping skills and stress management abilities in patients recovering from catastrophic events in their lives, and in the caregivers who are supporting their recovery. Techniques will be illustrated for effectively assessing a patient's coping and stress management skills. These examples will be presented in relation to culturally sensitive care provided to a very diverse population.
By providing education and encouragement, rehabilitation nurses will be strong advocates and effective change agents in facilitating positive coping and stress management in the lives of persons they serve. In this chapter, a variety of strategies to reduce stress and incorporate healthy coping mechanisms into the routine care of persons with disabilities and their caregivers will be presented.


text:
Tea Time
I am a big coffee drinker but when the weather gets colder I start to infuse teapots of tea. And I do it several times a day. I became interested in quality teas when I was a teenager but at that time there were not that many places where to buy good tea. I mostly shopped at Stockmann department store in Helsinki. Now a days we are more lucky as there are many good tea shop e.g. Théhuone.
My favorite tea is oolong. Oolongs are something between black and green teas and it contains a lot of antioxidants. I prefer tea leaves but sometimes I am in a mood for easier tea bags. As a big Morocco lover I love mint and peppermint teas. I have also grown my own peppermint at the cottage and dried it to drink during the cold winter.
As an aesthete I like to collect beautiful tea caddies and packages. I have bought them from my travels but also from my home town Helsinki. Some I have gotten as a present or souvenirs from my friends.
Read more of teas from my old blog Koemaistaja.
Pukka and Higher Living teas in the pictures were given to me as a gift from Sugar Helsinki.


text:
The happiest of new years, Post-40 Bloggers. My wish for all of us is a future devoid of less worry – or at least better coping mechanisms to deal with those worries. Below is a personal essay I wrote in reaction to my worrying more after certain events in my own life and how I began to recover. Ed
2017 is the first year I left behind feeling less worried and more accomplished than I have done since Bronnie's death in 2010.
Given that Bronnie died at the top of the year on January 15, contemplating a new year ahead necessarily took on new meaning(s). I suppose this feeling of accomplishment crept up on me when I began to be again the woman Bronnie married. The woman that didn't worry half so much about all the catastrophes that could befall her or her nearest and dearest. The woman who didn't get so upset at human flaws (hers included). The woman who knew that worry or not shit will happen. Put less colloquially – the woman who knew worrying doesn't change the outcome.
Read on | What Mel Did